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Springwater girl donates $700 worth of toys to charity

“I like helping out kids who can’t have a Christmas,” says nine year old, who donated to the South Simcoe police Stuff the Command toy drive

While many kids are making their Christmas wish lists, nine-year-old Sadie Black just gave away nearly $700 worth of toys to local kids in need.

Through the sales of homemade bath salts, cookies, tea biscuits, tea towels and hangers, the Grade 4 student from Springwater Township raised $675, which she used to buy toys she then donated to the South Simcoe police department's 'Stuff the Command Post' toy drive.

“I like helping out kids who can’t have a Christmas,” Sadie said, adding she and her mom are already buying supplies to do it all over again next year.

This was the third time Sadie had raised money for local charities at Christmastime, starting with the Salvation Army, and then a combination of the Salvation Army and the South Simcoe police toy drive.

Melanie Black, Sadie’s mom, said they chose to donate to the South Simcoe police toy drive, despite not living in the communities it serves, because the police force is “very active” in the news.

She said the bath salts, which were sold in Christmas tree ornaments, were hot sellers.

Melanie said she posted about Sadie’s efforts on Facebook, and it was shared widely, with strangers reaching out to place orders.

With a goal of raising $200, their final total came as a big surprise.

Sadie and her mom bought toys at Canadian Tire, from baby toys, remote-controlled cars and blocks, to stuffed animals, Paw Patrol toys and LOL dolls, and donated them all to the toy drive Dec. 8.

The South Simcoe police auxiliary Twitter account tweeted its thanks to Sadie, calling her a “generous hearted young lady.”

“Community spirit is strong in her family,” read the tweet.

In total, the toy drive raised $32,000, about 1,700 toys, and about $1,400 in gift cards.

Melanie said their goal next year will be to raise $800 for charity.

She said parents should not discount their children’s age when it comes to getting involved in giving back to the community, and even doing something small can make a big difference.

“It makes me very proud. I’d be lying if I didn’t say there weren’t some tears when she donated all those toys. It makes me feel like I did something right in raising her,” she said.

“It’s the little things that count… that can make a difference in someone’s life.”


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Jenni Dunning

About the Author: Jenni Dunning

Jenni Dunning is a community editor and reporter who covers news in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.
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