Giving spirit takes hold with new Moncton charity

A Moncton woman whose registered charity has caught on in just one year will present toys to another 300 children Monday.

Eleven months ago, Amanda Pooley decided to collect used toys for children in need.

What started out as something she was doing out of her basement has blossomed into What Kids Need Moncton, Inc., a registered charity.

To date, Pooley has collected enough gently used toys and clothing to provide for 272 children in need.

"We live in such a generous city, the more locations I put stuff in, the more stuff comes in that needs to find families," said Pooley.

Today, Pooley - with help from Santa Claus and some elves - will add to that total and provide toy and books to more than 100 families, with a total of almost 300 children.

Dianne Mitton, one of the 30 volunteers working with Pooley, was looking forward to the presentation.

"It's going to be an exciting day," she said. "We'll have a chance to see some of those families and see joy and that's exciting.

"It's fun to help other people at Christmas time," she said. "But it also fills yourself up with joy, too.And I'm so excited for Amanda. It started as such a small thing, her posting a notice and people wanted to give her toys, and now she's helping 300 families.

"I think it's really incredible."