SURREY - For the past six years, Community Safety Officers Josh Waltman and Simon Wong have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Last Thursday (Sept. 4), the officers came to Sophie's Place, a child-protection facility at The Centre for Child Development in Surrey, looking more like a pair of Saint Nicks than police officers.
The pair co-ordinated donations within the RCMP for this year's early Christmas toy donation, raising approximately $500 between RCMP officers and volunteers.
Matt Purdy, owner of Toy Traders in Langley, has been part of the drive since it began. This year, he donated more than $850 worth of toys along with $200 in toy trader bucks.
Waltman said that it was his commanding officer that got him involved with community work.
"Six years ago, myself and my partner Simon (Wong) started. We had a supervisor at the time that really showed us that we had a great job and we get paid well to do what we do and it's important to give back," Waltman said.
The supervisor connected them with Purdy and the early Christmas toy drive was born.
Waltman said that this year's recipient was a no-brainer.
"With the recent partnership between the RCMP and Sophie's Place at The Centre for Child Development, we thought it was the perfect fit for this year," he said.