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"And the community is very very responsive to the need," he said. Last year, the Salvation Army distributed more than 10,000 toys and more than The sponsors, mean while, promote the cam paign and try to solicit sup port. Once the toys are collect ed, the Salvation Army dis tributes them to needy fam ilies in the community. The Tree of Angels is an annual toy drive presented by the Salvation Army and sponsored by 105.3 KOOL FM, Conestoga mall, the City of Waterloo and the Waterloo Chronicle, among others, said Rick Sheasby, the executive director of the Salvation Army. "We had to count them all and we sat here for ages. There must have been 50 sets, all different colours and sizes," Dwyer said. And a woman once came bearing two boxes of hats and mittens she had made. "That was wonderful, Stevens said. On another occasion someone rolled in with : bicvcle. One time a group of highâ€"school students colâ€" lected Canadian Tire dollars, which they used to purchase shopping carts full of toys. elene Stevens and HBelly Dwyer have many fond memoâ€" ries of the time they‘ve spent volunteering at the Tree of Angels in Conestoga mall over the last three years. Tree of Angels needs donations as soon as possible o l aus o e e /d ks z»ar@i e Pe s \“l\ 2e i * Yo. s ped , Fotilies o. o P on ins â€" . 2| ut and about JE " @! Waterloo was a bustle of activity last week, with many people and groups keeping busy before the '\‘a "â€"â€"@l yâ€" C holiday season. From left â€" Mollie Foy, 3, enjoys a breakfast with Santa event at Conestoga mall, tak moe . ach P ing part in crafts sponsored by Laurier‘s Students for Literacy; Kathryn Plunkett, the teacher program sns a ... mer at Joseph Schneider Haus, demonstrates how to turn animal fat into candles at the museum; and T4 e * 6 \ctal KCI students Natasha Gunn (left) and Keelin Scully take part in a boxing demonstration at the recent \a\ "'- Accelerate Health and Fitness conference for girls at Sir John A. Macdonald high school % d F i R iewwrer ornstow anp 808 vrsanac rsotos 4 6 is iÂ¥ & # 1 .\ o iR @ * C ’/ ': 13 § \ s \ P3 S [ @ I im :: t g ua t‘ PP . 4 l sik. s o P e C 16 > s s 51 4 , e C us} K J L M 7 [3 S i 1PZ \ a x 2\,.'.,\‘{,; * s @ PE Th â€" ols x + A x‘ 2 t 4g6 o e . S \\‘ ) /, 94 Flka‘s igs * 7 2 M o Ars M / ‘;-v' .t' c : 4 s ip C f j hk +oh o cainen P o eC P ' . ; *A iz i im . :< B o * * _ .', 1 ~Â¥ T"{"‘:‘;’\“ f B ® * [‘”’.F e . @ fls oc‘ i0.o 9l 3 P sb s g 7 %Z : j%\,{ Sta W- M aimens 4 g R & a :?"".“â€"‘_‘:4'\". a <H Ne 7 * ith _â€" + i a s amrech 4 en a 4 ~â€"â€"s# j & 1| pegganr s ol ht aCity 28>=> Al se _ ie csw cmerpe . E> e C m < U ce ’ »lsoe 1 Bd d * 4 Mole ____ s ~ * mm * terma c > l r e in 4i T l _ > h " _ oA d » t 1z 'A L n es : m al. .’V SE + Es P es * Ree es z «* ioi bge> > ‘* & hCs is C m 5 se 4 f." e s By Jenntrer Ormston Chronicle Staff a The organization aims to give each child an equivaâ€" They also try to include a family game or puzzle, along with a book for every kid. "What we try to do is proâ€" vide a toy for each child in a family." 3,000 articles of clothing in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo. Volunteer Helene mall. ty last week, with many people and groups keey ollie Foy, 3, enjoys a breakfast with Santa event . Laurier‘s Students for Literacy; Kathryn Plunkett demonstrates how to turn animal fat into cand| Stevens encourages the public to donate items to the This program runs in conjunction with the Christâ€" mas Bureau, which also helps with the House of Friendship‘s Christmas food hampers. lent amount of toys, which are sorted and packed according to a family‘s size and need. There, a Christmas tree provided by the May Court Toys can be dropped off at the Tree of Angels in Conâ€" estoga mall, by the entrance to Zellers. "Together, we‘re able to provide for these families® food and Christmas gifts," Sheasby said. Tree of Angels toy drive, being held in Conestoga The Salvation Army is in need of baby gifts for kids two years of age and younger, as well as items for teenagers. It will be raffled off, along with a custom shadow box from Wee Piggies and Paws, at the end of the campaign. Club stands among the gifts JEMWMFER Ormston 0T0 "It‘s a really good feeling to give." And Stevens urges the public to get behind this campaign because the need for toys is great in this comâ€" munity. Sheasby is asking the public to make their toy donations as soon as possiâ€" ble. In the past, toys were colâ€" lected until Christmas Eve, but that didn‘t give Salvation Army volunteers enough time to sort and distribute them. This year‘s ca'mpaign kicked off on Nov. 24, and it runs until Dec. 20. The Tree of Angels has been around for 21 years. "I think that‘s a key comâ€" ponent. I want a parent (to try) to teach their child that receiving isn‘t the only thing about life." And sharing is good for the soul, he said. He encourages parents to drop off a toy, and, at the same time, teach their chilâ€" dren about the art of giving. "Without the Tree of Angels and other specific groups that provide for us, there would be no toys." Many organizations conâ€" tribute toys to the Salvation Army at this time of year, which Sheasby is grateful for because of the high demand. Gift certificates and movie passes are ideal gifts for_dilal age group. The organization proâ€" vides gifts for teens up to age 18 to allow single parâ€" ents who may be out of work the opportunity to give their child a present.