Thank you for your interest in the 2019 York Regional Police Holiday Heroes Campaign. In partnering with our campaign, you are supporting the Salvation Army and Victim Services of York Region and helping families in York Region who are having a difficult time this holiday season.

This year, marks the 23rd time the Holiday Heroes Campaign has been able to change the lives of families who have come into hard times. Each year we ask individuals, businesses, community groups and schools to partner with us to help support these families in need. This year's campaign will run from November 12 to December 13, 2019 and 100 per cent of the donations directly support families from our community who are in need.

We will be launching our 2019 campaign on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at the Newmarket Soccer Club, with an exhibition game at 3 p.m. Bring a donation and come watch our police team take on the coaches of the soccer club.

Every year, we invite York Region businesses, schools, organizations and community groups to become partners to help us collect toys and gift cards. Please join us and help bring a smile to a child's face this holiday season!

When is the Holiday Heroes Campaign? The campaign will run from November 12 to December 13, 2019. Can I get involved? Of course! Donations can be dropped off to any police district or at one our events. Simply donate new, unwrapped toys, gift cards, hygiene items or new clothing. A calendar of our upcoming events can be found here. You can also make an online financial contribution. These donations are used to purchase specific items a family may need or to purchase gift cards to grocery stores, etc. To make a financial donation, please click here. What items are needed most? While we are grateful for every donation we receive, every year we struggle to meet the needs of tweens, teens and babies. Ideas for tweens and teens (10 and up): curling irons, hair dryers, hair kits, jewelry, electronics, books, hoodies, sporting goods, backpacks, school supplies, board games, scarves, gloves and gift cards Ideas for babies: diapers, wipes, food pouches, formula, clothing, blanket and development games Can we have an officer visit our toy drive event? We will do our best to accommodate your request. The Holiday Heroes program is staffed by volunteers and officers cannot attend during their working shift. If we have enough notice, we will do all we can to have an officer attend your event for a photo opportunity. Can our group coordinate our own toy drive? Absolutely! The only way Holiday Heroes is a great success is because of people like you. Our success depends on the generosity of the people in our community. Collecting items from friends, coworkers and families make donations at holiday parties, sporting events and neighbourhood toy drives helps ensure we spread as much joy to those in need across York Region. Get creative to inspire others to get involved. We are happy to supply our campaign logo for you to create posters to promote your toy drive. What happens after I donate a toy? Most companies and businesses drop off toys to the Salvation Army Food and Toy Distribution warehouse in their area. Toys collected through a group event can be delivered to the warehouse or arrangements can be made for a pick-up where more than 100 toys have been collected. Once at the warehouse, staff and volunteers inspect, sort and package the toys by age for delivery to the Salvation Army Community and Family Services Centres throughout York Region. Each Salvation Army collects family applications and qualifying families for Christmas Assistance throughout the months leading up to the holiday season to determine the inventory required to meet the needs within their community. I know a family in need. How do I register them in the Holiday Heroes program? Unfortunately, we are not in a position to process family requests, however, you can reach out to any York Region Salvation Army. They will require an application to be filled out and it can be downloaded here. I still have questions. Who can I contact? For more information about the Holiday Heroes campaign, please contact Carrie Rutledge at 5622@yrp.ca.

Holiday Heroes Partners