Community toy drive aims to give Penticton kids a special Christmas | iNFOnews.ca
Locolanding's Diana Stirling, Santa and Gateway Casinos and Entertainment's Jerry Pokorny are getting ready for the first annual GatewayGives and Locolanding Community Toy Drive being held at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on Nov. 26. Contributed

Community toy drive aims to give Penticton kids a special Christmas

PENTICTON – A new collaborative effort between two Penticton businesses hopes to make Christmas a little more special for local children in need.

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, through Lake City Casino in Penticton, is partnering with Locolanding Adventure Park to collect new, unwrapped gifts for underprivileged children in the South Okanagan.

The first annual Community Toy Drive takes place this year on Nov. 26 from 6 to 9 a.m. at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast. Santa will also be on hand for photos.

The event’s origins grew from an understanding that thousands of gift donations would be needed in order for children in need to have an opportunity to enjoy Christmas.

Over 1,500 children will benefit from GatewayGives and Locolanding Community Toy Drive. The toys will be distributed through 16 organizations including the Salvation Army, South Okanagan Women in Need Transition House, Dragonfly Pond Family Respite Society, Penticton and District Community Resources, Ministry of Children and Families, Ooknakane Friendship Centre, St Vincent de Paul Society,  Penticton and District Society for Community Living, Church of the Nazarene, Penticton Secondary School, Princess Margaret Secondary School, Christopher Housing Society and the Community Action Program Lower Similkameen.

The toy drive is looking for assistance collecting toys for kids of all ages including teenagers. Local businesses interested in having a donation stocking to fill are asked to contact Lauren at Lake City Casino at 250-487-1280, or email lzucchiatti@lakecitycasinos.com.

Those wishing to make a donation but unable to attend the Nov. 26 event can drop gifts off between now and Nov. 26 at the Penticton Chamber of Commerce at 553 Vees Dr. in Penticton.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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