City Hall playing Santa again with ‘Toys for Tickets’

Journal Staff Sarnia is once again accepting donated toys in exchange for parking ticket fines, through to Dec. 15.

Journal Staff

Sarnia is once again accepting donated toys in exchange for parking ticket fines, through to Dec. 15.

Toys for Tickets, first launched last year, allows drivers to avoid a parking fine by donating a new children’s toy or gift card of equal value. The toys are distributed to families in need via the United Way.

Last year, the city collected 32 gifts.

Participants should bring an unwrapped toy in its original packaging, along with the receipt and the ticket to customer service at City Hall during regular business hours.

Toys for newborns to 18-year-olds are accepted. City staff says most needed are gifts for older children aged 13 to 18, who typically don’t receive donated gifts.

Giving gift cards can help agencies like the Inn of the Good Shepherd, Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul purchase the gifts.

The city estimates its revenue loss at $7,000 to $12,000.