An annual toy drive in Isle Madame hasn’t been slowed down by COVID-19.
Carol Ann Hayne started the toy drive in 2017 in memory of her son Jason, who died of cancer at 21.
She says they collect the toys to give back to the IWK Health Centre, in Halifax, which helped her family so much during her son’s last year.
Hayne tells The Hawk Jason’s giving spirit inspired her.
“He had a rough, really rough time, but always had a smile on his face,” she says. “We used to bring him Legos, for him to have something to do, and he always gave the Legos to the little kids.”
Hayne says Strait Area Transit donates a vehicle, which is shuttling her and the toys to the IWK Friday.
She says they have filled it in spite of COVID-19, and that is what Jason would have wanted.
“We’re doing this in memory of somebody who was an exceptional person,” she says. “My son was very giving; he would definitely be for this to go on.”
Hayne says almost everyone in the community donates and, even with the pandemic, they have more donations this year than in 2019.
