Local youth teams up with Lattitude 56 to raise over $500 for toy drive

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A 12-year-old Taylor resident and a local business recently teamed up to sell crewnecks in order to buy items for Home Hardware’s annual toy drive supporting the Salvation Army.

Amy Byford, Sarah Byford’s mom, says her daughter has been organizing fundraisers with Julie Roach-Burns, owner of Lattitude 56, for a while.

“Those two are like two peas in a pod, and [Julie] had reached out and said, ‘This year I wanna do something,’” said Amy, noting that Sarah and Roach-Burns then met up and devised a plan to purchase items for the toy drive.

“This year, she did it all on her own, with her and Julie. I wasn’t involved at all. I mean, I’m just the taxi. I’m just supporting the dream.”

Sarah and Roach-Burns spent a Saturday in November at a market selling the shirts and raised $520. With a list she received from the Salvation Army, Sarah then went shopping at Canadian Tire, Home Hardware and Polka Dot Penguin Parties.

Amy says Sarah was still able to purchase a lot of toys despite a rise in prices. 

“I noticed they’ve gone up a lot for what we got this year compared to last year.”

Sarah also set aside some money to purchase gifts specifically for teenagers who don’t receive much from toy drives.

Amy says Sarah’s biggest concern was ensuring there were enough items for everybody because she didn’t want anyone to feel left out.

“She told me that she just wants to encourage others, if they can, to do the same thing. She said it just makes her happy.”

Unwrapped, new gifts can be dropped off at the Strait and Home Hardware Toy Drive sleigh inside the hardware store until December 16th. All donations will go towards the Salvation Army.

Moose FM will also be live on location, spreading the word about the toy drive on December 15th and 16th.