Stuffed animals go to Grandview, CFB Trenton and Sick Kids hospital
Aug 23, 2009 - 04:30 AM
By Melissa Mancini
PICKERING -- Patrick Doyle was inspired by the dedication of local bridge ceremonies when the bodies of soldiers killed in Afghanistan are driven down Hwy. 401, and he decided he wanted to do something to help the troops.
"I would see the people on bridges all the time," he said. "Especially with CFB (Canadian Forces Base) Trenton being so close, I thought: what can I do?"
Mr. Doyle's company, Proforma Synergy, recently partnered with Artistic Toys to bring stuffed animals to children through the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the Grandview Children's Foundation.
Mr. Doyle's company distributes promotional products for other companies. When he came across Artistic Toys, a company in the U.S., and found out it was willing to give away stuffed animals, he looked to find a way to use the product to help local kids.
Mr. Doyle coordinated with the Ajax Kinsmen Club, which paid the shipping, so Artistic Toys could ship and distribute more than 2,000 toys and stuffed animals. The toys went in care packs, were distributed to the children of training soldiers and went to comfort sick kids in Toronto.
"They were all put to good use," Mr. Doyle said.
Recommend :