The Burlington Cougars are collecting toys for the Salvation Army again. The team says it will take them at any home game from Friday, Nov. 20, to its final collection night, Friday, Dec. 4. The toys go to families the Salvation Army, the church and charity known for its Christmas help, supports in Burlington.
That's a later start than in 2024, when donations were taken at home games from Nov. 1 to a final night on Nov. 29. Toys are only taken at games, not every day in between, so check the Cougars' home schedule before you shop.
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The team's drive is one of a number of local appeals with dates in the next few weeks. Here's a selection, earliest first.
| When | Who | What to give |
|---|---|---|
| Tue., Nov. 17 | Burlington minor hockey house league | Non-perishable food |
| Nov. 20 to Dec. 4, home games | Burlington Cougars | Toys |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Port Nelson United Church | Warm winter clothing |
| Until Dec. 1 | Halton Police Kozy Kids | New snowsuits, youth sizes 6-16 |
| By Dec. 4 | Compassion Society of Halton | Walmart, President's Choice or Dollarama gift cards |
First up is Burlington minor hockey. BLOMHA's house league teams are collecting non-perishable food through their Gift of Giving Back program, with a food collection day at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The program supports the Burlington Food Bank, Feed Halton, Food for Life, the Salvation Army, Halton Women's Place, the ROCK and the Halton Learning Foundation.
Port Nelson United Church holds its Warm Winter Clothing Drive on Saturday, Nov. 21. It most needs coats, snowsuits and other outerwear, new wool blend socks, and pocket-sized hand creams and lip balm. This year the clothes go to Burlington Outreach, including people living rough in encampments, and to Gore Park Community Outreach. The church says: "Like last year, there is still a great need in our community to prepare for winter."
Halton Police are running Kozy Kids for a sixth straight year, asking people to buy new snowsuits in youth sizes 6 to 16 and drop them at a police district station or headquarters. Donations are accepted until Tuesday, Dec. 1.
If you'd rather give food on your own schedule, the Burlington Food Bank keeps a list of its ten most-needed items: hot and cold cereal, large soup, juice, granola bars, peanut butter, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned meat, pasta sauce and personal hygiene products.
Gift cards help too. For its Holiday Gift Program, the Compassion Society of Halton says Walmart, President's Choice and Dollarama cards that arrive by Friday, Dec. 4, will have the most impact.
Buying a real Christmas tree can also help. Burlington Minor Lacrosse says 15% of a real tree ordered through Treasy Trees goes to Burlington Minor Lacrosse. Under Treasy's 2026 fundraising terms, the order must go through the club's own purchase link, and the 15% is worked out before taxes and delivery fees.
For money rather than goods, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre is asking for donations to its Community Access Programs, which help remove barriers to the arts. They include the Golden Ticket Program of free tickets for students, the ONSTAGE and BACKSTAGE arts education series, and pay-what-you-can Discovery Series shows and Cushion Concerts. You can give online or at the box office, and any donation above $25 gets a tax receipt for the full amount.
