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10th Annual Richmond RCMP Toy Drive breaks records, spreading holiday cheer

Richmond

2024-12-04 09:48 PST

Richmond RCMP proudly announces the record-breaking success of its 10th Annual Toy Drive, hosted on November 23 at Lansdowne Centre. Community generosity reached new heights, with $33,419 raised and 2.5 tonnes of toys donated, in support of the Richmond Christmas Fund, another program of Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives.

Richmond RCMP officer and dog from behind sitting inside a police vehicle

Event highlights:

VIP ball hockey games featuring the Richmond Sockeyes, RCMP officers, and community leaders.
Family-friendly activities, including photos with Santa and mini donuts for donors.
Complimentary tickets to a Richmond Sockeyes game for all participants.

View larger image: RCMP officers and Richmond Sockeyes playing ball hockey with community members

Quote from Superintendent Julie Drotar, Senior Operations Officer:

The community’s support has been incredible. Every donation will brighten a family’s holiday season, making this milestone year unforgettable.

Quote from Ed Gavsie, President and CEO of Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives:

With the growing need in our community, events like this highlight the power of collective compassion. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Watch the highlights

Check out our video showcasing the joy and generosity of the day.

Transcription

[The words looking back 2024 RCMP Toy Drive appear on the screen. The video shows a wide shot of a parking lot and the camera starts to zoom in.]

[The shot jumps to a man holding and waving a sign that says Richmond Christmas Fund Event. Richmond Christmas Fund with a bear holding a red arrow pointing to the left.]

[The camera zooms in and jumps to Superintendent Julie Drotar, Senior Operations Officer for Richmond RCMP. She is wearing her police uniform and hat.]

Superintendent Julie Drotar Senior Operations Officer, Richmond RCMP: Oh this toy drive is amazing and it allows us to be so close to our community and give back to our community

By having this toy drive where we collect toys with all our partners, we actually get to give these toys to children in need in the City of Richmond and bring smiles to their faces. It’s a wonderful event.

[While Superintendent is speaking the video jumps to a shot of people on the side-lines watching police officers and VIPs playing ball hockey.]

[The shot jumps to a woman police officer dressed in uniform giving stickers to a child. There are police vehicles behind her.]

[The video jumps to RCMP safety bear wearing a red serge uniform taking photos with people.]

[The video jumps to a police vehicle with a police officer showing the public the vehicle. Superintendent Drotar starts to speak again.]

[The video jumps to Superintendent Drotar in her police uniform with a fire truck behind her.]

[While Superintendent Drotar is speaking, the video jumps to various shots of the public attending the toy drive. It also shows her speaking and interacting with the public.]

[The video shows children inside of a police vehicle.]

[The video jumps to the DJ for the event who is wearing a Vancouver Canucks shirt. He is speaking into a microphone and announcing the RCMP puppy.]

Toy Drive DJ announces We’ve got the RCMP puppy

[The video jumps to a male police officer dressed in red serge who is holding a small dog that is dressed in red serge. The two are standing in front of a police car and then the video jumps to show them sitting inside of the police vehicle from multiple angles.]

[The video shows the public engaged in activities at the event, including children that are colouring.]

[The video jumps to a fire truck where a firefighter is talking to the public and letting people climb inside of the fire truck.]

[The shot jumps to children playing ball hockey and one child is jumping up and down and gives a high five to someone.]

[The video jumps to a Santa standing in front of the red semi-truck with the works Coca Cola written on it and then a white bear wearing a shirt that says I am human can be seen and the video pans to show Santa standing with two people while having their photo taken.]

[The shot then jumps to show a lion mascot with a child taking a photo with a police vehicle in the background.]

[The video then jumps to people being handed donuts from a food truck and Ed Gavsie, the president of Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives starts speaking.]

[The video jumps to a shot of Ed Gavsie as he speaks. He is wearing a red Santa hat.]

Ed Gavsie, President of Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives says Richmond is a very supportive community so people come out to support their fellow Richmondites and by distributing these toys everyone in Richmond is able to celebrate in the spirit of the holidays

[As Ed continues to speak the shot shows a woman hugging a man that is sitting down. The video then jumps to a man taking a toy out of a bag and placing it on a table. The video then returns to a shot of Ed as he continues to speak.]

[The final shot shows four people smiling and waving at the camera]

The screen fades to black and the RCMP crest, Royal Canadian Mounted Police written in both English and French and the copyright for His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2022, appears on the screen.

Looking forward

The Richmond RCMP Toy Drive has become a cherished tradition, ensuring all families in Richmond have a reason to smile this holiday season. Stay tuned for future events where we can make an even greater impact together.

Richmond volunteer interacting with children