For the third consecutive year, a Wallaceburg girl is hoping to lift the spirits of some children in need this upcoming holiday season.
Rori Bennett, 10, of Wallaceburg, has launched a toy drive for the Christmas Room program at the Ronald McDonald House in London.
Rori said the program helps lift the spirits of the children in the hospital.
“I have learned that it doesn’t matter how much I collect that they enjoy everything that we give them because they appreciate everyone who supports them,” Rori said. “That powers me to keep going.”
She is looking for new and unwrapped toys for children ages newborn to 18.
“So baby toys, to hair and make-up, books and stuff like that but it has to be unwrapped only because of health reasons and same reason for the new, we have to have new toys for health reasons,” she said.
Rori said she has progressively gathered more and more toys each year she has organized the toy drive, gathering approximately 150 toys two years ago and about 210 last year.
“I have set a goal with myself to collect as many as possible but I would like to try to beat last years estimate for toys,” she said. “I would like to see if I could hit at least 210 of them, if not more.”
Not only is Rori gathering toys this year, she is also gathering some items geared towards the whole family.
“This year I have also introduced the welcome bags for families who have unexpected stays due to an emergency,” she said. “The welcome bags can include deodorant for men and women, toothbrushes, mouthwash, toothpaste, calendars, notebooks, hand sanitizers and stuff like that. Pocket size things that can be used in the time of urgent care.”
The following businesses are serving as drop-off locations for the toys this year:
– Rental office at 780 Wallace St. in Wallaceburg, unit 104
– Debbie McGonigle School of Dance, located on Dufferin Ave. in Wallaceburg
– Debbie McGonigle School of Dance in Blenheim, located on Chatham St.
– RBC in Wallaceburg, located on James St.
– St. James Anglican Church in Wallaceburg, located on James St.
– Holy Redeemer Parish office in Wallaceburg, located on Murray St. in Wallaceburg behind Holy Family School
– Lifetouch Photography, located in Chatham on Heritage Road
– Haute Pink Dancewear Boutique, located in the downtown Chatham Center
“I’ve gotten a lot of support,” Rori said of the business community. “Some businesses are doing this toy drive as their Christmas donations. Lifetouch Photography in Chatham is making my toy drive their Christmas donation which I really appreciate. Co-Operators is also making my toy drive their Christmas donation. Last year Devolder Farms did and we are going to get in touch to see if they want to do that again.”
Rori said she chooses to fundraise for the Ronald McDonald House, to say thank you for all the help they have given to her family over the years.
“They have given me a place to stay before procedures and surgeries and a place to stay after surgeries so I could be close to the hospital in case of any emergencies,” she wrote on the toy drive’s Facebook page. “They have also given my dad a place to stay while my mom stayed in the room at the hospital with me. The volunteers have made sure meals were given to my dad to bring back to the hospital so both him and mom could eat while I was in the hospital.”
The fundraiser started on September 19 and ends on November 19. Rori’s 11th birthday is right in the middle, Oct. 19.
If anyone is interested in becoming a drop-off location or is looking for more information, contact Rori’s mother Kim McAuley at 519-627-6083 or by e-mail at kimmcauley@live.ca.
