RICHMOND – The 10th annual Victor Ghirra Toy Drive – in memory of the man with a golden heart – has officially kicked off. Newly wrapped toys can be dropped off at Riverside Banquet Hall, Vancity and all The Co-operators Insurance branches from December 1st – December 10th.
The annual toy drive dedicated to the man with a golden heart, Victor Ghirra will be helping ten charities this year that include: Children’s Hospital, Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, Key Solutions, Richmond Christmas Fund, Helping Hands, Options BC, Canuck Place, Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association, Nightshift Ministries – Care Centre and a local elementary schools for families in need.
In addition to the 10 charities being helped, this year the organizing team is looking to help more good causes. “Over the last 9 years, we have not turned anyone away; if you are involved in a good cause, we are here to help. We want to keep Victor’s legacy alive and will do our best to help even more. Please contact us and tell us what you need.” said Harvey Kooner, founder of the Victor Ghirra toy drive.
Victor was involved in many charitable initiatives, but one charity that Victor was really touched by was the BC Children’s Hospital. A heart warming story that depicts Victor’s character was when he would every Christmas, buy thousands of dollars of toys and go to Children’s Hospital to donate them to needy children. When they would ask, “Who are you and where are these toys from, which organization?” Victor would simply reply, “It doesn’t matter who I am or where I am from, these toys are for the kids and that’s all you need to know.” It was found out that Victor made trips to the hospital for over a dozen years. Victor was just being Victor, he didn’t tell anyone what he was up to.
This is the 10th annual Victor Ghirra Toy Drive; in the last eight years, over 25,150+ toys have been collected in memory of the man with the golden heart.
“Sitting amongst the hundreds of mourners at Victor’s funeral in October there was one thing that was clear: his giving spirit must live on. Speech after speech, in one of the most emotional funerals anyone has been to, all resonated the same feelings; it was not fair that Victor left this world at the tender age of 37,” says Harvey Kooner, Co-founder of BBS.
Victor’s brother Bobby Ghirra believes, “My younger brother Victor…you can not imagine looking at Victor, without looking at that smile, the smile that could make a slow morning brighter or stressful day peaceful because it renewed my sense of hope. The meaning of the smile, will never lose its power, it will forever warm my heart in the coldest of times.”
The toy drive is fortunate to have continued support from the Richmond Sunrise Rotary Club. Kal Mahal, of the Richmond Sunrise Rotary club stated: “It is great to give a donation of $1500 to this group that is going to help make sure families have a Merry Christmas and provide many smiles to children’s faces. This is a wonderful way to help the Ghirra family to remember Victor’s giving ways. Just a great cause for our community.”
Everyone is encouraged to bring new and unwrapped gifts to the following locations:
Riverside Banquet Hall, 14500 River Road, Richmond, www.riversidehalls.com
Bobby Ghirra, 604.244.7755, [email protected]
All Co-operators Insurance branches in the Lower Mainland
Vancity (36th & Victoria branch)
Corrina Pitacco, 604.877.7023, [email protected]
