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Every Community Needs Its Heroes
The York Regional Police Holiday Heroes campaign is back! Each year, this program supports thousands of individuals and families in need in York Region.
The 2024 Holiday Heroes campaign will run from November 12 to December 13. We are seeking donations of cash, gift cards, new toys, new children's clothing, non-perishable food items and hygiene essentials.
The donations will be distributed through our community partners Salvation Army, Victim Services of York Region and the York Region Centre for Community Safety.
In 2023, a total of 6,300 families victimized by crime and other tragic circumstances received holiday gifts and other essentials thanks to the generous donations of our everyday heroes. Since the program launched 28 years ago, Holiday Heroes has helped approximately 100,000 individuals and families in need.
This year, York Regional Police is hoping to expand the reach of the campaign even further. Please help us reach our goal of $150,000 in monetary and gift card donations.
Monetary and gift card donations allow our community partners to purchase essential items, and ensure support is provided to families in need after the holiday season has ended.
Every community needs its heroes. When you donate to the Holiday Heroes campaign, you have a direct positive impact on the lives of those in need within York Region.
Be a hero and donate today.
Donate now!
Frequently Asked Questions
| Where can I drop off a donation? |
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Donations can be dropped off at:
Please visit our Donation Drop Off Location page for more businesses who are partnered with us this season to collect donations. |
| When is the Holiday Heroes Campaign? |
| The campaign will run from November 12 to December 13, 2024. |
| Can I get involved? |
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Of course! Donations can be dropped off to any police district or at one our events. Simply donate new, unwrapped toys, gift cards, hygiene items or new clothing. A calendar of our upcoming events will be posted on November 8. You can also make an online financial contribution. These donations are used to purchase specific items a family may need or to purchase gift cards to grocery stores, etc. To make a financial donation, please click here. |
| What items are needed most? |
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While we are grateful for every donation we receive, every year we struggle to meet the needs of tweens, teens and babies. Monetary and gift cards are the best, as they ensure items needed most can be purchased. Monetary donations also mean families can continue to receive support long after the holiday season. To make a monetary donation, please visit yrp.ca/hhdonate. The need for grocery gift cards is also higher than ever as the cost of groceries continues to rise. Ideas for babies include, diapers, wipes, food pouches, formula, clothing, blanket and development games. |
| Do you collect essential items for the Holiday Heroes Campaign? |
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Absolutely! Every year during the Holiday Heroes Campaign, York Regional Police assembles backpacks, which comprise of items such as tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap, winter toques, gloves, blankets, hygiene essentials, etc. These backpacks are then provided to vulnerable and underhoused individuals who reside within York Region. We partner with local shelters and provide these backpacks to our frontline officers who hand out to people they may have an interaction with. If any business/organization, or individual would like to donate a large quantity of new essential items to this program, please email holidayheroes@yrp.ca
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| Can we have an officer visit our toy drive event? |
| We will do our best to accommodate your request. The Holiday Heroes program is staffed by volunteers and officers cannot attend during their working shift. If we have enough notice, we will do all we can to have an officer attend your event for a photo opportunity. |
| Can our group coordinate our own toy drive? |
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Absolutely! The only way Holiday Heroes is a great success is because of people like you. Our success depends on the generosity of the people in our community. Collecting items from friends, coworkers and families make donations at holiday parties, sporting events and neighbourhood toy drives helps ensure we spread as much joy to those in need across York Region. Get creative to inspire others to get involved. We are happy to supply our campaign logo for you to create posters to promote your toy drive. Any businesses and organizations who have collected over 100 toys/items, York Regional Police will be happy to help assist with pick up from your facility. Any donations under this amount, please drop items off to your local York Regional Police Station.
To get involved, please email holidayheroes@yrp.ca for more details. |
| What happens after I donate a toy? |
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Most companies and businesses drop off toys to the Salvation Army Food and Toy Distribution warehouse in their area. Toys collected through a group event can be delivered to the warehouse or arrangements can be made for a pick-up where more than 100 toys have been collected.
Once at the warehouse, staff and volunteers inspect, sort and package the toys by age for delivery to the Salvation Army Community and Family Services Centres throughout York Region. Each Salvation Army collects family applications and qualifying families for Christmas Assistance throughout the months leading up to the holiday season to determine the inventory required to meet the needs within their community. |
| I know a family in need. How do I register them in the Holiday Heroes program? |
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Unfortunately, we are not in a position to process family requests, however, you can reach out to any York Region Salvation Army.
Northridge Salvation Army, please downloaded and fill out an application here.
Markham Salvation Amy, please call: (905) 472-3009, email: MarkhamMinistries.info@salvationarmy.ca or visit in person at: Markham Ministries, 136 Main Street North Markham, ON, L3P 1Y3 Markham Salvation Army will be extending their registration till December 5th, 2024
Richmond Hill/Vaughan Salvation Army, please call (905) 737-0496 email: richmondhill@salvationarmy.ca or visit in person at: Richmond Hill Community Church, Suite 102, Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C 9S6 |
| I still have questions. Who can I contact? |
| For more information about the Holiday Heroes campaign, please email holidayheroes@yrp.ca. |
Holiday Heroes Partners
