Oakville hockey association sends challenge to Burlington 11 · Friday, November 20, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 1 tunate than ourselves," said Crowell. "Jim, in your memory, I want to thank you for starting a great program," said the chief. The program kicked off this year at the official grand opening of the new Canadian Tire, 1100 Kerr St. Standing tall amid toys, some young elves and hockey players, was Hamilton Tiger Cats linebacker Agustin Barrenechea a proud supporter of the program. "We were kids, not too long ago," said Barrenechea before encouraging the public to remember opening that special gift on Christmas morning. Skoularicos said the program is not only operating at local Canadian Tire stores and police stations, but local groups are also lending a hand. The Minor Oaks Hockey Association's (MOHA) Fill the Hockey Net toy drive netted $12,000 toward Toys for Tots last year. It's back this year with a challenge to competitor Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association (BLOMHA), which is running its own Fill the Hockey Bag toy drive -- and donated $1,000 at the kickoff. "There are about 30 to 40 individual toy drives going on," said Skoularicos, impressed with the `team' effort. Collection boxes -- elegant wooden boxes crafted specifically for Toys for Tots by students of White Oaks Secondary School (WOSS) -- that read: Wanted by Police: Toys for Tots, are now at all Canadian Tire stores in Halton. Cash donations are accepted, as are toy donations (at some Canadian Tire stores). Toy donations are accepted at all police stations. Just before Christmas, police use the cash donations to go shopping for toys -- and Canadian Tire offers them a substantial discount on their purchases. Halton Honda helps ferry the donations and toys about and they eventually find their way to the Salvation Army Toy Depot where needy families get toys for their kids at Christmas. Toy drive officials remind people not to forget the tweens when donating as those aged six to 15 are tough to buy for. Some suggestions include gift cards, movie tickets, inexpensive MP3 players and electronic games.Gift cards can also be used by teens to purchase items that are appealing to them at a later date. For more information about Toys for Tots, visit www.haltonpolice.ca. FOLLOW THE FIESTA Monday Nov. 23rd 10am to 4pm OAKVILLE WIN TS DES TICKE BLA le who pres First 30 peop the Fiesta ey "followed th e and mention ln" will receiv nd Ford Linco ckets. to Oak-la le Blades ti pair of Oakvil a Name: Address: Phone: Email: Oak-land Ford Lincoln A Special Invitation to Preview the Exciting New Ford Fiesta mily Owned & Operated for 40 Y ears! Oak-land Ford Lincoln · Doing Business Your Way WWW.OAK-LAND.COM