Hundreds of people turned out Tuesday to help make Christmas brighter for children in the South Okanagan this season. The 22nd Annual Toys for Tots to Teens had a new venue, but the generosity was still there helping several organisations collect toys for children of all ages.

This year’s event at Canadian Tire Penticton from 7am to 7pm, Tuesday November 23rd saw 1,500 toys donated, and 8,000 dollars in toys, gift cards and cash purchased at Canadian Tire. Canadian Tire is generously matching the donations which were purchased at their store bring the total cash value this year to 16,000 dollars.

Those who donated during the day were treated to coffee and muffins from Tim Horton’s throughout the day, and to burger of hot dogs in the afternoon courtesy of Marketplace IGA.

Other highlights included performances by the Wiltse and Parkway Elementary School Choir, and the Get Bent Belly Dancers, and or course a visit from Santa himself who posed for pictures with numerous excited children.

Countless volunteers helped make the day possible including member of the Penticton Vees, the Okanagan Hockey Academy, the Penticton Tier Two Pee Wee Vees, the Pen-High Leadership Class, the RCMP, Penticton Fire Fighters, along with staff from SUN FM, EZ Rock and the Penticton Herald.

Toys collected during the day are being distributed to several organisations including the Salvation Army, Dragonfly Pond, SOWINS, Church of the Nazarene, St Vincent, Yes Youth Project, SOVAS and Pen-High.