Since he moved to Calgary a decade ago, Dr. Richard Denney has been the epitome of the Christmas spirit by spearheading the annual “Toys for Tots” campaign. After working on the program in Toronto with 18East and Traxx bar in the late 80’s, Denney decided to launch the program here.
“It’s my Christmas before Christmas. It gives toys to children who can’t have a Christmas,” Denney told GayCalgary.com. “My friends come and give very generously of their hearts and their wallets to a cause they believe in. I have a great following of people, last year we had in the neighborhood of $6000 in toys. One benefactor just went out recently and bought $1000 in toys, he can’t make it to the event so he bought and dropped off toys in advance. We have organizations like Metro The Club, who come in with bagfuls of toys that they contribute.”
This years event takes place Sunday Dec 4th from 3:00pm – 7:00pm at Money Pennies. Patrons bring unwrapped toys and are served snacks and wine, while being entertained by live music. The next morning Denney and his friends take the toys to the Native Women’s Shelter on MacLeod Trail. Denney spoke about why he chose that organization to receive their donation.
“The Native shelter seems to be left out in the cold all the time. Lots of donations go to the Women’s shelter and other organizations. Many of those groups get a lot of toys from various community groups, and I wanted to do something where it was being appreciated. The women at the NWS are very appreciative. Some of the toys are used at the shelter and the rest, [such] as cash donations used to make food hampers, are sent out to their communities, some of the reserves and various outreach programs.”
The toys bring a lot of smiles to faces, but Denney did comment that the age 13 – 16 age group at times seems to be forgotten, and encourages people to consider them when making purchases this year.
“The age group of 13 – 16 seems to get left out each year, for both boys and girls. We have a lot of toys up to that age but that group is the one I am pushing when people ask what we really need. A present for that age would be greatly appreciated. Even things like jewelry, CD’s and DVD’s would be appreciated for that age group, and it doesn’t have to be a toy.”
Denney is astounded by how the program has grown. In its early days he held the event in his own home, but eventually it outgrew that!
“It has probably grown [by] three to four times the amount of toys from when we started. I used to hold the event in my house, but it became so big that I couldn’t have it at the house anymore. Lorrie and Michelle from Money Pennies came to the event and I said ‘I don’t know what I am going to do next year, there isn’t room for everybody’ and they said ‘Why don’t you consider having it at the bar?’ It’s a great idea because the bar is already decorated – they get their decorations up early for the Toy’s for Tots night. The bar really has made it so that every year it gets larger and more people come out and know about it. It is known now that it is the first Sunday of December.”
Denney also keeps track of those who have participated to ensure everyone knows that the event is happening.
“People will call me wanting the dates of the event because they don’t go out to bars but want to support the event. I have a phone list of people that I call that I know don’t go out and call and invite them or send them a card with information on the event. It is a great chance to have an outing with friends they haven’t seen in awhile, it is a very social event.”
Denney’s goal is to have Toys for Tots continue for many more years. While many will stand up and applaud Richard Denney for organizing such a great event and giving back, he is humble and insists that this is about more than his legacy.
“I am a simple man with simple ideas, this was an idea I came up with when I moved to Calgary, and now here we are in the tenth year. There’s going to be at least ten more. The legacy I hope to leave is that this is a season of giving, love and joy and that it is not about me or my legacy it is about people continuing this when I am no longer around. This is a day to get people together to give to those less fortunate than us and make their Christmas better. It gets the Christmas spirit going in the beginning of December and we have a wonderful time getting together with friends.”
Dr. Richard Denney’s “Toys for Tots”
December 4, 2005, 3:00 – 7:00
Money-Pennies Eatery and Bar
1742 10 Ave SW
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