Eskimos fans will build a mountain of toys for 630 CHED Santa Anonymous toy drive on Nov. 3 at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Toys On The Turf promotion will allow fans to walk down to field level through the seating area covered in tarps in the northeast corner of the stadium to deliver their toys to volunteers before and during the CFL game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kickoff is 2 p.m.
Fans will be directed from Gate 9 to the donation station. Of course, fans will not be allowed on the actual field itself because a game will be underway at the time.
The toys should be wrapped in clear plastic bags to keep them clean and visible (remember that security will be searching all bags upon entering The Brick Field). The toys will be carefully stacked along the walls, so they will still be in good condition to deliver to young families and children at Christmas.
Considering that Eskimos fans have basically filled up CISN morning show host Chris Scheetz’s Kool Bus in the past, there could be a very impressive-looking collection of toys on the sidelines destined for local children and families in need of help during the holiday season.
Monetary donations will be accepted as well.
The Eskimos raised almost $65,000 in value of combined toys and donations during last year’s 630 CHED Santas Anonymous toy drive.
The most-needed toys every year are for infants to two-year-olds and from nine- to 12-year-olds.
Here are some appropriate suggestions for those age groups:
The Eskimos will also be donating 50 regulation CFL footballs.
Among the items that can’t be accepted are anything made of glass or anything comparable, food, realistic guns (anything like soldiers, tanks, etc.), video games and clothes (630 CHED Santas Anonymous won’t know the sizes of the children receiving the gifts).
Because the Eskimos are teaming up with 630 CHED and Corus Radio Edmonton for the promotion, children aged 12 and under can get into the game with 630 CHED children’s tickets for only $6.30 in the bronze upper deck sections if they are bought at the Eskimos Team Store at Commonwealth Stadium. If buying tickets online, there would be the normal TicketMaster fees, as well.
Also, the first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive an 2018 Eskimos team photo, sponsored by the Global.
Season-seat holders can also exchange any unused tickets from the regular season for bronze (upper deck) tickets for friends and family.
And if fans aren’t able to attend the game, they can donate their tickets to a charity like Kids Up Front Edmonton, which will then distribute the tickets to fans who wouldn’t otherwise be able to come to the game.