In a year that has been challenging for so many, Dunpar Homes wanted a way to give back to the community we love.
On Saturday Nov. 28th, we did just that. Members of the Dunpar Homes team and the The John Zanini Foundation delivered toys to the beautiful community of Long Branch in South Etobicoke.
It was all in support of the Second Annual Kelly Marie Atyeo Holiday Toy Drive. This community action and the woman after whom it is named matter deeply to Dunpar Homes. Kelly Marie Atyeo and her husband, Joshua Fick, had purchased a Dunpar Home at Lake Shore Village in 2018.
From left, Michael DiPasquale, Joshua Fick, Carolyn Atyeo and Lina Atyeo and little Lucia get ready to load toys into the U Haul for the Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain toy drive.
That Christmas, Kelly started a toy drive to collect gifts for children who might not otherwise find anything under the tree. It was a success, and Kelly had dreams to make the toy drive bigger and better, to ensure more children in need would have presents at Christmas. However, a few months later Kelly passed away suddenly at the age of 31.
Toys stay in the community
The donated toys are given to the Toronto Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain, and are then distributed to children in Toronto in time for Christmas.
Dunpar Homes reached out to all our staff, residents and followers on social media for donations. Three massive boxes were placed at locations throughout the city. And our Dunpar Homes community did not let us down, generously filling those boxes with toys for all ages in time for Saturday’s presentation.
Michael DiPasquale, Chief Operating Officer at Dunpar Homes, presented the toys to Kelly’s husband, sister Carolyn Atyeo, and mother Lina Atyeo at a sun-filled event. Kelly’s goal for her next toy drive had been to fill a cube truck with toys. And that is exactly what happened.
We are so proud to have played a small part in helping realise this goal and keeping Kelly’s legacy alive.
Kelly Marie Atyeo.
