When the organizers of the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish found out they needed to relocate their toy warehouse, they faced the possibility of spending up to $40,000 on the move – money that could have been going to charity.
Instead, they turned to long-time partner Mayhew to save the day.
CTV has long been a client of Mayhew – which handles office design, relocation and other logistics. The past two years, the company brought a transport truck and volunteers to collect toys during the Christmas Wish toy drive at CTV's 299 Queen St. W. building.
While it plans to do the same for this year's toy drive on Saturday, it went beyond the call of duty, providing trucks to move everything in the warehouse to its new location a kilometre down the road.
Seven Mayhew employees worked on the move for two and a half weeks, with the company charging for their labour at cost.
Mayhew provided the truck, insurance and gas for free, making a $40,000 job into one that only cost $6,000, says Dave Nicholson, CTV director of facilities and special projects.
"I approached our vendor to see if they could help, and they really came through," he says. "They believe in the Wish and are a good supporter, and volunteered to assist in our move."
Mayhew customer relations manager Regina Vaisberg said the partnership just made sense.
"The (family that owns the company has) always had a soft spot for community outreach and helping out," she said. "It's part of the culture here… We've got the resources -- why not lend ourselves to a cause like this?"
The company plans to send about 10 staff members to help load the truck for Saturday's toy drive, but had to turn away many more who were interested.
"The feedback we've had from people who volunteer is that it's nice to see Toronto as a community that comes out and participates," says Vaisberg.
Mayhew also provided a sign for the outside of the building, which would have cost about $3,000, says Nicholson.
Nicholson is no slouch himself, arranging with various CTV contractors to fix up the new place at 1366 Blundell Rd. in Mississauga. Painting, wiring and even construction work was completed for the charity at little or no cost.
He also arranged for 45 Scouts, Girl Guides and Beavers from Pickering to help unload the trucks and set up the new space.
"There was a mountain of toys about the height of a three-story building," he says. "We started at 8:30 a.m. and somehow we were finished by 2:30 p.m."
