Take 'em away, toys
RCMP and JTFN send toys to children in need across eight Northern communities
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, December 18, 2013
LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS
RCMP officers and JTFN personnel were making their lists and checking them twice as they prepared to send Christmas presents to more than 100 underprivileged children across the North.
Fiona Ross shows off some presents before they are shipped off to children in need in time for Christmas. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo
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“They can wake up in the morning and their eyes are shining because they're not left out of getting a gift in the spirit of Christmas,” said RCMP Chief Supt. Wade Blake.
Blake was one of many RCMP and JTFN staff busy wrapping presents at the detachment's hangar on Wednesday afternoon, as part of their second annual Christmas toy drive.
He said it was important to make sure those who are less fortunate were able to celebrate Christmas
“This means a lot especially when it's a family that otherwise wouldn't have anything,” said Blake.
The toy drive evolved out of the Toys for the North program, which had members from southern communities donate gifts to be distributed across Nunavut and the NWT.
Since that program ended two years ago, RCMP and JTFN in Yellowknife have taken over the responsibility for collecting toys for needy families.
This year, presents will be sent to families in eight remote Northern communities, including Tuktoyaktuk, Norman Wells, Whati, Ulukhaktok, and Paulatuk.
Twenty-six families in Ndilo, Dettah and Yellowknife will also be receiving presents.
Lists of families in need are compiled by local RCMP with the help of Health and Social Services and nurses that are based in the respective communities.
“It's not their fault that they're in this situation, they're just kids,” said Blake. “This is going to help them feel just as special as any kid in that community.”
The toys will be flown up to the various communities on flights with Buffalo Airways, First Air, and Air Tindi, depending on their destination.
The toys will then be handed out by RCMP officers in the community before Christmas. Blake said that some of the officers in the community have even been known to dress up as Santa Claus when they hand out the gifts.
“We try and look for ways to reach out to people in need in the communities,” said Blake. “Hopefully people will see that's what Christmas is all about.”
