Santa, Mrs. Claus and several of Santa’s elves delivered two bus loads full of toys to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau on Friday. Over the past few weeks, 2,678 toys were donated by customers and staff across TransLink and its operating companies. The toys, as well as more than $2,500, were donated as part of a long-standing initiative known as Toys for Tots.

For 36 years now, employees from TransLink, Coast Mountain Bus Company, BC Rapid Transit Company and Transit Police have been donating toys for families in need.

The program started in 1985 by a group of bus operators at the Surrey Transit Centre, who decided they wanted to do something special for the community and give back during the holidays. The program has grown ever since and the tradition carries on.

Over the years, the toy drive has donated almost 90,000 toys and raised over $53,000 in donations for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.

“We are so thankful for our long-standing relationship with TransLink and the Toys for Tots initiative. We do our work one toy, one child, one family at a time, and the support we have seen from TransLink over the past 36 years helps us empower families in need to create holiday experiences for their children,” said Chris Bayliss, Executive Director of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.