**NEOFACS NEWS RELEASE**

The Cochrane District EMS (Emergency Medical Services), along with staff from the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB), have put out the call inviting everyone to their 8th Annual Toy Drive taking place in Timmins on Sunday, December 8, 2019.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys, gifts or cash donations can be made from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the parking lots of both Canadian Tire and Walmart. The community is encouraged to come out and help fill an ambulance and a crib, and new this year; help fill a hockey net. The hope is to fill the crib with items for babies, such as diapers, wipes, receiving blankets, bottles, onesies, and toys for infants and babies, and to fill the hockey net with items for tweens and teens, such as electronics, hygiene and beauty products, hoodies, backpacks, books, board games, and sporting goods.

The crib will be set-up alongside the ambulance in front of the main entrance doors at Walmart and the hockey net will be set-up alongside the ambulance in front of the main entrance doors at Canadian Tire.

“We hope to fill the ambulance with new, unwrapped toys or donations for our community’s children who are in need, to fill a crib with items for babies, and to fill a hockey net with items for teens. We know that baby and teen items are always in demand and short supply,” said Derrick Cremin, Cochrane District EMS Commander.

“Our community has always answered our call, and helped us reach and surpass our goal.” The items collected from this event will be presented to North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS). The donations will be distributed through NEOFACS’ Christmas Angel Campaign to children and youth, aged 0 to 18 years, throughout the region who are in need this holiday season.

“We are so thankful for the generosity from our community and to the CDSSAB and Cochrane District EMS for the work that goes into organizing and hosting such an event,” said Mireille Dubosq, Volunteer Coordinator at NEOFACS.

“The donations we receive from this toy drive go towards helping hundreds of infants, children and youth right here in our community.” For more information or for anyone who is unable to attend the event but would still like to make a donation, please contact Derrick Cremin, Cochrane District EMS Commander, at 705-268-7722 ext. 287 or creminde@cdssab.on.ca. To learn more about NEOFACS’ Christmas Angel Campaign, please visit www.neofacs.org/christmasangel.

Filed under: Local News