Burlington dads spend $50K on toys for local kids in need

How would you spend $50,000 at a toy store? That’s what some Burlington dads did today along with their families at a Hamilton Toys “R” Us.

It’s all part of a toy drive the group has been doing for the past five years — and each year it’s growing.

The goal is to fill your cart with as many toys as possible.

“I believe there is probably about 40 people that are here, 40 or 50, including a bunch of the kids. We give them a budget of about $800 to go fill in their carts. And then everybody brings their carts, rings it through and we find out what kind of total we’re at,” said Jamie Kozub, president and chairman of The Burlington Dads.

The toy drive is put on by The Burlington Dads which started off as a community group but now has grown into a registered not-for-profit. This year they raised over $50,000 which makes this shopping spree possible.

One of the “Diamond Sponsors” for this event was Matt Lalande from Lalande Personal Injury & Disability Lawyers, who donated $10,000 to the Burlington Dads Christmas Toy Drive.

“We’ve been blessed. And it’s great to be able to give back to those who need that extra hand at Christmas time,” said Terry O’Brien, dad and sponsor.

“It’s really important to donate to a cause like this because we have the means to make sure families that can’t do it are going to be able to do it, provide a good Christmas for their kids,” said Matt Stevenson, another dad and sponsor.

They also get a discount from Toys “R” Us near Lime Ridge Mall on the Hamilton Mountain at check out – which makes the donations go even further.

All of the toys purchased today will be donated to the United Way and Salvation Army and be given to children in time for the holidays.

More information about The Burlington Dads can be found on their website.

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