With less than a month away from Christmas, the holiday giving season is well underway.
A unique Christmas Cheer campaign in Sault Ste. Marie, called Toystock, combines a rock concert with the collection of toys for children to ensure everyone has something to open for the holidays.
Greg Simpson has a passion for music, he sings and plays trumpet and piano and says Toystock offers him a way of sharing his love of the art with others.
"My lovely wife came up with the name. ‘Why not call it Toystock? You've got 10 bands for 10 hours, why not call it Toystock?’ So, it's brilliant, it's just perfect, and it's been going for seven years now." said Simpson.
"We started out in the basement of the Canadian. It was much smaller, a little seedier, but still fun. And then, we honestly didn't think it was going to be this much of a family event, but people kept bringing their kids, and bringing their kids, and we had to grow." said Greg’s wife Kerry.
And grow it has. Now in its 7th year, the 2018 version of Toystock has attracted dozens of people of all ages.
For some, like Brittany Fawcett, it's the first time they've seen a live concert combined with holiday cheer.
"Yeah, it is unique. It gets people out and makes them probably want to come and donate more stuff. I think it's a great opportunity for people to get together and help the children that are less fortunate around Christmas time."
Bill Nadon is a long-time attendee.
"Yeah, more than a DJ, you want to see people. And it's local talent, there is 10 bands for 10 hours and it's all in good fun." said Nadon.
Angzela Hill brought her grandchildren to this year’s event.
"They like the music. Actually, this is a surprise that there is music, because I really wasn't prepared, but the grandkids like to dance and stuff like that, so it's all good." said Hill.
The price of admission is a new or gently used toy, non-perishable food item, or monetary contribution. Organizers say everything collected is donated to Christmas Cheer.
"It's kind of been dying off; people haven't been going out to see the live bands anymore. And now we're introducing the next generation to live music." said Kerry.
"Everything, every genre, old, young, you name it. We've got music students coming in from Case's Music. We've got a couple of Soo-lebrities coming by, it's going to be great." said Greg.
Toystock is the first stop on the annual Stuff a Bus campaign for Sault Ste. Marie’s Christmas Cheer.
A city transit vehicle will park at a number of locations throughout the coming week collecting donations for the cause.
