Volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
The Salvation Army’s Dianne Falkinson and Peel Police Const. Emma Robb had help from volunteers, who shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
Sleeping bags were on the list as volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
Volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
Volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
Volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
Volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
Laurie, a cash manager at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire, worked quickly to bag items as volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
Volunteers with the Salvation Army and Peel Regional Police shopped for youth ages 9 to 14 at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire on Wed. December 16, 2015. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
BY KELLY ROCHE
Ten volunteers dropped $10,000 in about 30 minutes at the Meadowvale Canadian Tire early Wednesday.
But it wasn’t a door crasher sale.
They woke up early to shop for the Toys for Tots program, cashing out before the store opened at 8 a.m.
Lists in hand, they worked the aisles and quickly gathered items for youth ages 9 to 14.
Winter boots, sleeping bags, foot spas, and clock radios were in need.
“When people are typically donating, they’re thinking of the younger age groups,” and buying stuffed animals, said Peel Police Const. Emma Robb.
Wednesday marked the ninth – and final – shopping expedition in Mississauga and Brampton.
“We’re able to do this because of the donations that are given throughout the year,” said Dianne Falkinson with the Salvation Army.
It’s easy to spend in a hurry since “stuff is expensive, as everybody knows,” said Falkinson.
Toys purchased will be distributed to 2,200 families in need over the next week.
Falkinson said “hundreds and hundreds ” of volunteers “support the program and do their best to help make everybody’s Christmas just a bit better.”
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