Prince George, B.C. – The Christmas season is fast approaching and a local organization is taking donations of toys to be distributed to children in the city during the holidays.

REAPS (the Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society) is holding its 17th annual toy drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.  REAPS Executive Director Terri McClymont says “We’re collecting quality used toys from the community to give back to children advocacy groups.  We currently have 14 registered groups with us, and we encourage people to come down to the REAPS office at 1950 Gorse Street today to drop off toys that their children no longer use.”  The toys will then be distributed during the holidays.

Why used toys?  McClymont says “because there are so many toys out there that children no longer use.  So instead of them ending up in the landfill, we would love to have the quality used toys come here.  Children just love toys, it doesn’t matter to them if they’re new or used, they just like to have something that’s different.  So we saw that there is a need in town, plus it fulfills our mandate of the three Rs, Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.”

Now the Toy Drive is not taking broken or ruined items.  “They have to be in working order and they have to be clean.  We’re collecting quality used toys.”  However Terri says new toys will be accepted too.  “Well we won’t say no.  And we do have a couple of agencies that put special bags together for children that are taken from the home for various reasons by Social Services, so the new toys go to those agencies.”

REAPS is also thinking of Christmas for critters.  “We’re also collecting for the SPCA because we don’t want to forget the animals during the holidays.  So any food dishes, leashes, bedding, along with cleaning materials for the SPCA such as paper towels, garbage bags or bleach, we’re accepting those things as well.”

10 till 2 today at the REAPS compost demonstration garden, 1950 Gorse Street  next to Fort George Park.