One item the drive is always looking for is board games as they like to give each family that registers a board game. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7FM

As it sees the highest number of registrations ever in its history, the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive is calling for donations

For over 40 years the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive has been Nanaimo's biggest toy drive serving families from Lanzitville to Cassidy by providing toys and gifts for families in need.

Janet Mirau is the chair for the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive. Having first helped the toy drive while she was a teenager, Mirau got involved again with the drive 12 years ago. During her time supporting the drive, she has seen an increase in registrations for the toys and gifts.

This year registration opened on November 26. Mirau said seeing the number of people already registering in the first couple of days is leading her to believe this will be the biggest number of registrations yet.

“In the first two days of registration [this year], we had 900 children registered, which was the same that took two weeks to register the year before,” Mirau said. “So we do know that demand is going to be way up.”

Mirau said last year, they served about 1,500 children and this year they are expecting about 1,500 to 2,000 children to register for the drive. She said they have never had to serve this many children before.

She said the cost of living is one of the key factors of why someone might need to use the toy drive.

“We're really hoping that our community is going to see that need and know that, just with the cost of a living, people are really, really challenged,” Mirau said. “Then when you kick in an illness or something sudden or unexpected, expense for people at this time of year, it can be really devastating.”

While the number of registrations grows, Mirau said they are concerned the number of toys being donated is starting to shrink.

“Anecdotally, we've seen that it looks like things are less than last year. So yes, we are very concerned about that,” Mirau said.

While the drive’s mandate is to give out only toys, they do accept cash donations and gift cards that the volunteers can use to purchase toys to fill the empty spots.

“But we are really limited to whatever is provided we're just simply an intermediary facilitating the donations from the wonderful people in our community to the people in need,” Mirau said.

The two age groups that seem to get the least amount of donations are the age two and under group and the age 13 to 17 group. Mirau said gifts for those ages are often bare by the end of the drive.

These two age ranges can be the hardest for people to shop for who do not have kids in the age range.

For children two years old or under, the drive suggests toys such as learning toys with shapes, numbers, or letters, learn-to-walk toys and cars. For teenagers, suggested toys are earbuds, makeup and hair styling kits, art supplies, and Lego.

A full list of suggested items for all age ranges can be found on the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive website.

Another item the drive is always looking for is board games as they like to give each family that registers a board game.

“So if there's a game that your family really loves and enjoys, that would be a great thing that we could be able to offer to people,” Mirau said.

Mirau said if a gap is found in gifts for a certain range group, they are prepared to reach out to the community to see if they can help donate the items needed to fill the gaps.

“We have had to do that in particular age gaps in the past, and every time the community has stepped forward for us,” Mirau said.

Gifts can be donated at over 20 locations across Nanaimo with some locations taking in donations up until Christmas day.

Mirau said they really appreciate individuals and businesses that take in toy donations that then get given to the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive. She said she has been seeing new ways people are encouraging donations.

“People that are doing their office Christmas parties, instead of doing a gift exchange, they bring a gift for a child in need,” Mirau said. “Then that business organization can come and drop that box of toys to the toy drive at our site the week that we're doing sorting and distribution”

Registration for the toy drive goes until December 18. Where to register, sign up to volunteer or find a list of drop-off locations can be found on the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive’s website.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.