Help make ‘Food and Toy Drive’ the biggest ever: DRPS

The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) 33rd annual Food and Toy Drive was launched yesterday at Regional Headquarters in Whitby.

The pandemic has brought many challenges during the past 18 months, including a greater need for assistance in our communities. Members of DRPS would like to challenge Durham Region citizens and businesses to make this year’s Food and Toy Drive the biggest ever, said a DRPS statement.

Interim Chief Todd Rollauer joined Insp. Rob Bryan, Cst. Darryl Rice of the Community Safety Branch and Mini-Chief Conor Frigan to kick off the donation drive. And the big man himself, Santa made an appearance too.

The Food and Toy Drive provides Durham Region families in need with food and toys for the holiday season. Throughout the months of November and December local businesses, organizations and individuals donate food and toys, which are then picked up by volunteers, sorted and distributed to members of the community.

Donations can be dropped off at any DRPS Division, Regional Headquarters in Whitby, Clarington Fire Headquarters or any fire station in Oshawa, Whitby or Ajax.

DRPS is encouraging community members to try and attend one of several outdoor Cram-A-Cruiser events taking place across the region to drop off food and toys this year. Each event will run from 10 am until 2 pm and a list of dates and locations is below.

• Saturday Dec 4 – Costco Oshawa
• Sunday Dec 5 – Sobeys Oshawa and Fresco Bowmanville
• Saturday Dec 11 – Superstore Whitby, Superstore Ajax, Superstores of Oshawa, Loblaws Pickering, Loblaws Bowmanville and Bargain Shop Oshawa
• Sunday Dec 12 – Liz’s No Frills -Oshawa
• Saturday Dec 18 – Canadian Tires of Whitby and Oshawa North

Donations can also be made at the front vestibules at any of DRPS divisions, with the exception of Regional Headquarters which is still closed to the public. They can also be dropped off at Clarington Fire Headquarters or any fire station in Oshawa, Whitby and Ajax.

DRPS thanked the many local businesses and fire halls that set up donation boxes or assist with Cram-A-Cruiser events. Thank you to the following dealerships and sponsors that help make this great event possible:
-Scotia Bank
-Ontario Motor Sales
-Gus Brown Motors GMC and Buick
-Fraser Ford and Fraser Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep
-Marigold Ford and Lincoln
-Durham Kia
-Mercedes Benz of Durham
-Menzies Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep
-Swish Quality Cleaning products
-Cardinal Boxes
-McDonalds Restaurants of Oshawa and Clarington
-Durham Transit
-Williams Communication
-McDonalds Family Restaurants (Whitby,Oshawa,Clarington)
-Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region
-Pet Smart
-Sobey’s Oshawa
-Fresco Bowmanville
-DRPS Auxiliary Members