After the success of their first-ever Great Gift Giveaway last year, Merrittville Speedway is once again inviting kids, age 13 and under, to come down on Saturday to pick up a free Christmas toy.
“It’s all about the kids,” says the co-owner of the race track, Lorraine Spiece, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “We love to give back to the community because [they] support us.”
Last year was the first time Spiece and her husband Don organized the event.
“The response was really good,” Spiece says. “We opened up from ten to two and people were here around nine o’clock in the morning. The line-up was from our hall out to our ice cream shop. It was a nice day, it was nice to see the kids smiling. Seeing that made us want to do it again.”
Spiece thinks the event is a valuable experience for her own children.
“It’s important for them to learn the giving aspect of Christmas as well,” she says.
Last year the Spieces collected close to 3000 gifts but this year they’re about to hit 4000.
“We are definitely going bigger,” says Spiece. “We started collecting them in July. There’s not a gift under $20. It’s dolls and trucks and just all toys for kids.”
Tim Hortons will be serving hot chocolate and Santa will be available for pictures. With the event, Spiece hopes to bring kids and their parents some joy during turbulent times.
“The hard times people have had for the last two years, it’s put people down,” she says. “The financial bind is higher than ever. We’re fortunate to be able to give back and help. If we can continue to do it, we will.”
The Great Gift Giveaway will take place at the Merrittville Speedway on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
