CTV and Move 100 Toy Mountain campaign raises $201,000

Wrapping up the Toy Mountain Campaign CTV's Jackie Perez talks to Glenn van Gulik with the Salvation Army about the importance of this year's Toy Mountain campaign.

It will be a merry Christmas for 23,000 children in Ottawa this year, thanks to the community's generosity.

The 28th annual CTV and Move 100 Toy Mountain campaign in support of the Salvation Army has raised $201,000 for families in the capital.

More than 69,000 toys were donated this year. They will help 7,800 families ensure there will be something from Santa underneath the tree on Christmas morning.

"It's been four weeks of coming out and seeing so many people support the work of the Salvation Army and Toy Mountain, making sure that every child has a toy under the Christmas tree," said the Salvation Army's Glenn van Gulik.

"From coast to coast, we know that Canadians are facing challenges, often having to make impossible choices, and so CTV Toy Mountain, the Salvation Army, partnering with all our donors and sponsors, are helping people to not have to make the difficult choice of skipping Christmas," said Salvation Army Maj. Jamie Locke.

The final donation from the Ottawa Professional Firefighters Association, raised during the Help Santa Toy Parade, put the total over $200,000. A $55,000 cheque was presented Friday evening on CTV News at Six.

"The city has come together," said Cameron Taylor with the Ottawa Professional Firefighters Association. "It's fantastic. Everybody's been super generous and we're really lucky."

Donations to the Salvation Army will be accepted up until Christmas Eve.