Kingston turns parking tickets into holiday cheer: Toys for Tickets raises over $6,000 in toys for local toy drive

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

The City’s 2025 Toys for Tickets campaign saw a total of 249 toys donated to local families in need.

Toys for Tickets is an annual campaign that allows community members to donate a toy in lieu of an eligible parking ticket. The toys, collected between Nov. 1 and Dec. 3, were donated to Salvation Army Kingston’s toy drive to be distributed.

This total represents nearly double last year’s donations, bringing the total number of toys donated since it started in 2005 to well over 4,000.

“I think it means a lot for our team … we’re just able to see how much the community is able to come together,” said Laura St. Pierre with the City’s Enforcement Services. “Individuals who didn’t even receive tickets were bringing in toys this year.”

St. Pierre also notes Kingstonians came through at a crucial time, with Salvation Army reporting increased need this year.

Listen to the full story here.