Welcome back folks. It's been one crazy summer for us here in the Uncle Neil & Friends Annual Toy Drive Family. My father (Our Esteemed Master Of Ceremonies) Bernie gave us a bit of a scare and spent some time in the hospital. (No worries, he's all better now) There was a huge retirmenet party for our musical director Mark. A big 50th birthday party for my brother Shawn. (One of our hardest working voluteers) And as for Uncle Neil, there was a broken tailbone, a broken rib, a broken tooth and a partridge in a pear tree. Let me tell you, the craziness of the Toy Drive may just be the distraction that the doctor ordered.


DONATION UPDATE!!!
We made our annual pick up from the Loot Lady today. A great big thank you to Carol and Bob for always being inspirational, and the most loving couple I’ve ever seen



DONATION UPDATE!!!
Who would want a McDonald’s toy for Christmas? Okay, picture yourself as a kid in the hospital. Santa can’t deliver you a giant teddy bear because of infectious disease worries, he can’t bring you a giant boardgame or a remote control car due to the lack of room, so what some of these kids will get is a stocking full of assorted goodies. Stuff like hot wheels, Polly pockets, balls, comics, colouring books and yes even McDonald’s toys. It might not sound extravagant in comparison to what will be under your tree Christmas morning, but having something to play with on your little bedside table means the world to some kids who otherwise would have nothing. Often it’s just the reminder for them that they’re not alone, and that someone cares. Tonight we picked up 1,500 McDonald’s toys to add to our count for the kids that need love the most at Christmas. I Tell Ya… Regardless of the cold, or the late hour, moments like these sure put a big smile across my face.

Click below to see the video



DONATION UPDATE!!!
A great big thank you to Katie McKinnon and her wonderful staff over at Treasure Island Toys for once again helping to make so many Christmas dreams come true.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
There is a man. One unlike any other. He is funny, he is whacky, he can make you laugh till you cry, and he has one gigantic heart. If you've ever been to a Fan Expo, or a Comic Con this side of Trump town you've probably even met him. He is the unrivalled, unadulterated, one of a kind Dr. Stevil. Well, this year he turns 50, and the man who has been the thorn in Austin Powers’ side since the sixties has another awesome venture to share with y'all. Dr. Stevil will be celebrating his half century at Canadian Toycon at The Holiday Inn in Burlington on Sunday November the 24th. Anyone dropping off an unwrapped toy will receive a chance to win a Dr. Stevil Funko Pop. All toys collected will be donated to the Uncle Neil & Friends Annual Toy Drive. Thank you sir. You have a heart that's worth "One Hundred Million Dollars" to us. While there, make sure to say hello to our Amazon Princess Wonder Woman



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
Another bit of good news from the music world today. I just received word from a truly classy lady that The Dedbeats will be collecting toys again this year. They will be performing at Roc N' Docs on Wednesday December 4th.
(105 Lakeshore Rd. E. in Mississauga)
If you have the chance, you don't want to miss them. Kevin Reid (guitarist in our Toy Drive House Band) is the lead guitarist/singer. And that's talent personified right there. Last year The Dedbeats helped raise a whole lot of toys for children that otherwise would have had nothing.
Thanks Marysia, you totally made my day.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
Let me tell you about this amazing guitarist named Dusty Chesterfield whom I was lucky enough to jam with many years ago at the Hard Rock Cafe. Not only is he an extremely talented guitar player, he's also one hell of a nice guy. A dude through and through. Well, Dusty is now a member of a truly iconic Canadian rock band you may have heard of. He's now playing bass in Saga. This year Saga have offered to help us spread the word as far and wide as possible.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
I like to believe that there's always good that can come out of every situation. And with every experience there is opportunity. For example, whilst at that award ceremony I met a representative from Canadian Tire. And he offered to help us collect toys by setting up a pre-show drop box at their Queensway location. Thank you so much Ted. Your kindness is just what I needed.



DONATION UPDATE!!!
I love surprises!
I just opened my front door to find 50 activity kits from Scholastic Canada.
Supermodel dog pose courtesy of Max. He’s looking out of the corner of his eye at a couple of noisy kids passing by on the street, and it almost looks like he is saying…
“What you looking at Willis?”



DONATION UPDATE!!!
Another incredible donation from our friends at Mastermind Toys. Thank you so much to John, Karen, and Margo. You've once again guaranteed that there will be a lot of smiles this Christmas.



COSPLAYER UPDATE!!!
Everybody's favourite regenerating degenerate will be at the show again this year. So hide your daughters and lock your refrigerators folks, Bolton's Deadpool will be in attendance to stir up his own brand of craziness.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
I just got word from Mike at Barrie Paintball that they are back on board again this year. This is great news. With Barrie Paintball's help last year we were able to help hundreds of children experience the thrill that only comes with the paintball experience.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
A great big thank you to Paul Gibson and all the awesome folks over at Thunder Graphics.
Their work is absolutely unparalleled.



DONATION UPDATE!!!
There are so many inspiring people that I have met along the way over these past 15 years. People who have put in the long hours. People who have gone above and beyond. And people who say what they do and do what they say. Right away. For example, it was only on Tuesday that I spoke to both Canyon Creek and Moxie's about the possibilities of donating some vouchers for our 50/50 gift baskets. (For those that don't know, ALL money goes immediately towards more toys for the kids in need) Well here we are only two days later and the vouchers are already on hand. Thank you so much to Carlos, Melanie, and Sean for everything.




SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
We have another new sponsor to introduce you to. A great big thank you to Carlos from Fairview Moxie's.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
Thanks so much to Nick & Mira's No Frills at Lawrence Avenue and Victoria Park for joining our ever growing list of amazing sponsors.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
We received word from Gene over at ATOMIC AGE COMICS that they'll be donating again this year. Gene and his wife Adrienne are wonderfully kind hearted people that have been with us for three years now. And we are definitely lucky to have them as part of our Toy drive Family.



NEW SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
Last night while the boys were having their music lessons (Alex on guitar and Christopher on drums) Josh at Scarboro Music told me that they'd not only be donating a voucher for our gift baskets, but that they'll be setting up a pre-show drop box to help us collect toys. These people are awesome. Thanks so much to Josh, Sydney, Frank, and all the folks over at Scarboro Music.



DONATION UPDATE!!!
An incredibly huge thank you to Rebecca over at Laser Quest for providing us with so many passes again this year. Over the years I have chased down so many companies that'll tell me to contact them at a later date, then when you follow up they'll be too busy to answer or return your call. Thankfully there are people like Rebecca in the world. If I call her on a Monday, she'll tell me to drop by the very next day and will have our donations ready with her patented lovely smile on her face. This lady is solid gold and always makes sure that we have more to offer the kids in need than just toys.




DONATION UPDATE!!!
And “POOF” just like that... Our Toy Count climbs by 2000.
Thanks so much to Sgt. Splatters for always helping us to make sure that the teenagers are never forgotten.




COSPLAYER UPDATE!!!
We have two new confirmed superheroes to tell you about. The Invincible Iron Man and Krypton's favourite daughter Supergirl will be joining our incredible roster of cosplayers.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
Just got confirmation that The Loot Lady is Back!!!
If you've ever heard me use the term "Christmas Angels", then I must have been talking about Carol & Bob Cusson from The Loot Lady. These two have been our longest running sponsor. They have been helping us help kids for fourteen years now. So many times I look upon what we here at The Uncle Neil & Friends Annual Toy Drive have accomplished together as a family and a community and am always drawn back to the fact that if it wasn't for people like Bob & Carol, this show would never have even gotten off the ground.
They don't just inspire me (which I'm sure you know they do in spades) but they have inspired many others along the way who have followed their example. Many have followed their lead with an "If they can donate, so can I" attitude.
It's without a doubt my favourite pick up of the year. Stopping in and hanging out with them (even if for only a half an hour) is like the inspirational shot to the arm that'll always see me through this event.
Thanks to these two wonderful people for always ensuring that not only the kids have a reason to smile, but that I do too. I love you both. - UN



VOLUNTEER UPDATE!!!
We've been exceedingly fortunate over the past fifteen years to have some incredible pictures taken at our event. And just a quick trip to our website will attest to that. So I'm thrilled to announce that we have the incredibly talented Mike Skarvinko, Andrew Chin, Liz Sterner Pinel, and Jim Ziegler joining us again.









SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
And the great news just keeps rolling in. There's nothing I like more than the feeling I get once things get off and running and the people who were involved in the past start contacting me to let me know that they're back on board again this year. You'd be surprised how frusterating it can be chasing people down. There are times when it can take several months of phone calls, emails, texts and missed connections before receiving a "we're back". Well, these past few days have really put a smile on my face. Welcome back Lorpon Labels and Canadian ToyCon.





SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
A great big thank you to Derrick Noble from Noble Toyz for once again pledging to collect toys for the kids in need. This guy is all class.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
I just received word that the incredible folks over at Beyond Kung Fu are going to help us collect toys for the kids in need again this year.



SPONSOR UPDATE!!!
I'm so happy to announce that Carlos and the folks over at Gotham Central will be helping us to collect toys for the kids in need again this year.




SWEET TREATS UPDATE!!!
Our awesome "Cookie Lady" is back again this year.



COSPLAYER UPDATE!!!
Elizabeth and I were at Fanexpo this weekened and met up with two of our incredible cosplayers that have confirmed that they will be at this year's show. Thanks so much to Groot & That Joker Guy!




ARTIST UPDATE!!!
Our three amazing artists will be back again this year, drawing sketches from your favourite comics, cartoons etc. Thanks so much to Arnold, Michael, and Micheala.



COSPLAYER UPDATE!!!
Don't stress out about Spiderman (hopefully only temporaraly) leaving the MCU. Everyone's favourite wall crawler will be at our show again this year. And not only will Peter Parker's alter ego be there, but the Miles Morales version will be as well. Into the spider-verse indeed. We also have a brand new hero joining us for the first time. Captain America. And of course, the incomparable Wolverine.



Alex & Christopher were a huge help today with our pick up from Toys Toys Toys. Thanks so much to Mitchell. His donation ensures that a lot of children will have a happy holiday.







I'm happy to announce that the incredibly gifted Arnold Trinidad of Sketch Soldier fame will be donating his time and talent once again as he takes as many requests as possible in the 2 hours that our show runs.




Our number of pre-show drop box locations is growing as well. Every year there are more people with the same goal as ours. And that is to see that no child goes without at Christmas time.

We believe that regardless of gender, religious belief, or ethnic background, every child, should have a toy. We are now in our 15th year still trying to make sure we can help as many children as possible. We've gone from a few friends telling a few friends, to having filled the equivalent of the Sky Dome 5 times.

Thanks for stopping by. Keep checking back as there are all kinds of exciting new things going on this year.