STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS
Driving on!
By Rik Davie/The Scugog Standard

Well, we’re getting into the spirit of Christmas around the office as the second week of the annual toy drive begins. It’s hard not to when your office becomes something of a Toys-R-Us warehouse for four weeks of the year. The entrance of our offices on Water St. are filled with dolls and trucks and games and ... well ... anything you can think of. With the help of our toy drive partners, we have already collected a lot of toys and even cash donations.
_Everyone in Scugog and Uxbridge, it seems, is reaching into their pockets and their hearts to give. This year, we at The Standard also adopted one family in need of a little bit of holiday help and the way the staff have taken to it, these folks will have one happy Christmas.
_What always amazes me is that some of the business leaders ... in the midst of their busiest time ... go the extra mile when it’s needed. This year, the BIA and the Chamber of Commerce have partnered with the toy drive regulars and put up great prizes for a donation campaign in local stores. For just a toonie, you get to help an area family and get the chance to win some great prizes.
_As always, Vos’ Independent, The Source, Crabby Joe’s and the team at Canadian Tire go beyond what is asked and have helped with some special things for special families.
Here, our office staff - and especially our drivers - pitch in to hold Fill-the-Van days and pick up toys at donation boxes around town. A great surprise this year was the spirit of the folks at the new Wal-Mart, who are on board this year and are being a huge help in the collection of toys.
_In Uxbridge, the business community is doing its usual great job. Led by community minded people like Ginger Jackson of Macdonald’s and Pat Higgens of Canadian Tire, they are well on their way to another successful drive.
_The spirit of Christmas has even extended to people walking up to me and offering to pay the parking ticket Santa’s helpers got a little earlier this year while unloading our Christmas display. Not to worry ... I’ve ordered coal for somebody!
_So when you’re doing your Christmas shopping this year, do as much of it as you possibly can with the merchants of Port Perry and Uxbridge. Show them you appreciate the fact that some of those dollars go back into the community in the form of the donations they make all year long to local charities, sports and those of us in need of a little help.
We are fortunate to live in a community where many of our merchants are also our neighbours ... and good neighbours they are.
_Another thanks goes out to Carolyn Ellis and the folks at KX96, who promoted our toy drive all day last Saturday and made it the most successful Fill-the-Van day at Vos’ in many a year.
_Remember, we have only two weeks left to get everything ready so the great team at Operation Scugog can make up the gift boxes and food hampers and get them out to families in time for Christmas. It’s a great thing to know that your donations - whether toys, food or dollars - are used right here in our own community to benefit our neighbours who, in many cases, simply have no money left at the end of the month for the extras, including Christmas gifts.
_And one last pitch! You can make donations of dry food and litter for our friends at the Uxbridge/Scugog Animal Shelter right here at The Standard’s Port Perry offices during regular business hours.
_Remember, support the people who support us ... and shop local!