REGINA – A local police officer held a toy drive over the weekend to give back to a neighbourhood she covers during her shift.
“I believe it’s good to give back to the community because I know not everyone is as fortunate as some others,” said Const. Desiree Mills, who works in the North Central Community Service Centre.
She came up with the idea while decluttering her home of toys that were no longer wanted.
Mills, a mother, sent emails asking for gently used toys from her coworkers and posted the call on Facebook. Emails were also sent to employees at Regina Fire & Protective Services and the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.
“It’s something that the entire community can take part in, and it came from one idea but, ultimately, it’s the community and the people who have really shown their support in this,” she said.
Mills collected dozens of donations and loaded them into a trailer on Saturday and Sunday at a parking lot near the Regina Police Service headquarters. She expects to collect about 80-100 donations in total.
On Friday, the toys will be delivered to the North Central Family Centre.
“They have dozens and dozens of kids who go there every day, as an after school program and throughout the day, to play with toys and just be in a nice environment,” she said.
The drive finished on Sunday. Mills hopes to turn the initiative into an annual affair.
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