The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) is working hard to try and keep the magic of the holidays alive for Nanaimo’s children and their families amid these uniquely trying times.
With the new Provincial Health Order imposed, it has become even more clear that gift giving for families in need will have to be handled differently for many organizations including The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive who has been collecting and distributing toys to children for 38 seasons. As more families struggle to make ends meet amid the COVID-19 pandemic they need extra help this year.
In support of this volunteer organization, the ICF is accepting donations online at www.islandrail.ca/donations. Every dollar donated will be used to purchase new toys and books that will be given directly to The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive, who will disburse them to families registered with the organization.
PLUS, in keeping with the spirit of the season, the festively adorned ICF Holiday Train will be lit up at the Wellcox Yard downtown Nanaimo (behind Port Place). We will not have a scheduled train running this year due to the new restrictions put in place by Bonnie Henry. While we are disappointed but we want to do our part in helping stop the spread of COVID 19.
“The trying times we have all faced in 2020 may be particularly difficult at this time of year for a larger number of people in our community”, says Larry Stevenson, CEO for the Foundation. “To help, we will do our best to ensure that no child goes without a gift this Christmas.”
Deadline for donations is December 10th to ensure gifts can be purchased and disbursed in time.
To register your family please visit www.greatnanaimotoydrive.ca
For more information:
Larry Stevenson, CEO
larrystevenson@islandrail.ca
Andrea Thomas, Manager, Corridor Development
andreathomas@islandrail.ca
The Island Corridor Foundation is a non-profit society and federally registered charity established for the purposes of owning and managing the rail corridor on Vancouver Island.
