Last night, Toolbox Niagara celebrated the launch of their eighth annual campaign with a pasta diner at Club Capri on Cleveland St.
“The turnout is just the best we ever had for a pasta night,” Toolbox founder James Symons told ThoroldToday. “I’m trying to talk to everyone which is impossible. I just want to thank the community.”
The annual campaign — which collects winter essentials for the homeless — officially kicked off Thursday morning at Fire Station 1 on McCleary Drive in Thorold.
“We had a really successful launch this morning,” said Symons. “We had CAA there, we had United Steelworkers there, [Mayor] Terry Ugulini, and a few people from the community.”
But the firefighters themselves were not able to make it.
“The first time in seven years, our eight campaign, they were out on a call,” Symons said. “They’ve never been out on a call. I arrived later in the afternoon to deliver the bins and they all apologized. I was like: ‘No, you have to be there. You were called.’ I really appreciate them guys.”
To help run the pasta dinner at Club Capri, Symons got the help from a large group of students from Thorold Secondary and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary.
“I swear they sent the whole school,” said Symons. “I am overwhelmed and very thankful. They’ve been helping in the kitchen — they’ve been doing everything. This is what you call community. We already filled a bin with donations. Everyone has done an excellent job here.”
Some of the meals at the pasta dinner were picked up by local outreach organizations who delivered them to people on the streets.
“We did 70 meals for the homeless,” Symons said. “Niagara Dream Centre and Beyond the Streets came and took them out.”
Now, Symons is hoping to collect as many winter essentials for the homeless as possible in the coming month.
“November 28 we pick everything up,” he said. “December 4, if anybody wants to come out, we’re going to CAA and we’re going to have pizza, wear ugly sweaters and have hot chocolate. It’s our assembly night. It’s lots of fun.”
The donation bins are located all throughout Niagara in the following locations:
Thorold:
- Thorold Community Activities Group
- Thorold Fire Station 1
- Thorold Public Library
- Thorold 50+ Centre
- McCollum Law
- Thorold City Hall
St. Catharines:
- Trillium Safety Supply
- Performance Toyota
- Starbucks Welland Ave
- Manhattans
- Bold Realty
- Sandra’s Home Health
- Penn Financial
Welland:
- Hart Seaway Mall
Fonthill:
- Penn Financial
Niagara Falls:
- Niagara Kung Fu Acadamey
- Essential Creamations
