The annual Holiday Toy and Food Drive organized by County Paramedics has become something of a local tradition in Bradford and surrounding communities. What started as a modest collection effort has transformed into one of the region’s most impactful holiday initiatives, with last year’s drive supporting over 200 families facing financial hardship.
I spent yesterday morning at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Community Centre, watching as off-duty paramedics sorted through mountains of donated toys. The scene was chaotic but heartwarming – teddy bears stacked beside board games, with bicycles leaning against walls and hockey sticks bundled in corners.
“We see the need firsthand,” explained Sarah Jennings, a 12-year veteran paramedic who helps coordinate the drive. “When you’re in people’s homes day after day, you notice when the cupboards are bare or when kids don’t have proper winter clothes. This isn’t about charity – it’s about community care.”
The initiative has expanded considerably since its humble beginnings in 2010. What began with a single ambulance parked outside the local grocery store now involves multiple collection points across three townships and partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community groups.
Bradford Mayor Thomas Wilson, who dropped by with his own donation of children’s books and canned goods, praised the unique position paramedics occupy in community service. “These are folks who already give so much through their daily work, yet they’re still finding ways to give more,” Wilson noted. “They see where help is needed most and they respond. It’s what they do professionally, and now personally too.”
Recent Statistics Canada data shows approximately 17% of families in Simcoe County struggle with food insecurity during winter months, when seasonal employment dips and heating costs rise. The paramedics’ initiative directly addresses this seasonal strain.
The drive collects not just toys but essential items that many of us take for granted – warm socks, mittens, hygiene products, and non-perishable foods. According to organizers, these practical donations often make the biggest difference to recipient families.
“People think mostly about gifts for children, which are absolutely needed,” said Mark Tomlinson, a paramedic captain who helped launch the initiative. “But we also need to remember that parents often go without to provide for their kids. Something as simple as a new towel set or coffee gift card can mean the world to someone who’s been putting everyone else first.”
Community response has been overwhelming. Local businesses like Bradford Appliance Warehouse and Cookstown Automotive have turned their showrooms into collection points. Schools throughout the district have organized friendly competition between classrooms, with Bradford Heights Elementary collecting an impressive 1,200 items last week alone.
What makes this particular drive unique is the personal connection. The paramedics delivering these holiday packages often know the recipients through previous medical calls or community interactions. They understand specific needs – which homes might require allergen-free foods or which family has a child with particular interests.
Jennifer Martinez, a single mother of three who benefited from last year’s drive, shared how meaningful this personalized approach was for her family.
“When the paramedics arrived with our box, they’d included art supplies specifically for my daughter who loves to draw,” Martinez told me. “They remembered her from when she had that bad asthma attack last winter. That kind of thoughtfulness – knowing my child beyond just being ‘someone in need’ – that’s what brought me to tears.”
The drive also serves another important purpose: building trust between emergency services and vulnerable populations. Research consistently shows that positive non-emergency interactions with first responders can increase the likelihood that people will seek help during actual emergencies.
“Some folks are hesitant to call 911 even when they should,” explained paramedic Amrit Singh. “Maybe they’re worried about the cost, or they’ve had negative experiences with authorities. But when they’ve met us through community efforts like this, there’s a foundation of trust already built.”
Local food banks report that the paramedics’ holiday initiative helps fill a critical gap in their services. While food banks provide year-round support, they often struggle during December when demand increases but regular donations sometimes plateau as people redirect their giving to other seasonal charities.
“The timing of this drive couldn’t be better,” said Frances Lehman, director of the Bradford Food Share Program. “It hits exactly when our shelves start looking bare and when families face the most financial pressure.”
For the paramedics themselves, the drive offers something equally valuable – a different kind of connection with the community they serve.
“In our regular work, we meet people on what’s often their worst day,” reflected Tomlinson. “This gives us a chance to be part of some good days too. To see kids excited about a new toy or parents relieved about having food for the holiday break – that’s the kind of medicine you can’t learn in paramedic school.”
The drive continues until December 20th, with collection boxes available at most municipal buildings, fire stations, and participating businesses throughout Bradford and neighboring communities. Organizers are particularly requesting donations of teen-appropriate items, which are often overlooked in toy drives, as well as gift cards that allow parents some dignity of choice in providing for their families.
As I left the community center, volunteers were loading up ambulances with sorted donations, ready for distribution. These vehicles, typically associated with emergencies and crisis, temporarily transformed into vessels of community support – a fitting metaphor for the paramedics themselves, who continue finding new ways to care for their neighbors beyond the call of duty.
