Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro and the community came together during the holiday season, in an effort to make the holidays brighter for a number of local families.

As part of its eighth-annual food drive, NOTL Hydro collected donations from the public during the Christmas parade, and community members dropped off donations at the hydro office in Virgil.

“Most people go to the parade to have fun and to watch … This is one way people can be giving back,” said Tim Curtis, president of NOTL Hydro.

The company estimates it received more than 100 toys and more than 1,000 pounds of food in donations this holiday season.

Brodie Mosher, manger, conservation and administration at NOTL Hydro, said more of the community is starting to remember the food and toy drive.

“A lot of people bring stuff to the parade to give us,” he said.

NOTL Hydro has been supporting Newark Neighbours with donations for the last eight years. Newark Neighbours has a limit of 10 families that receive toys, so NOTL Hydro also donated toys and food to Gillian’s Place and Project SHARE.

In the new year, NOTL Hydro is starting a tree fund campaign. When hydro customers sign up for e-billing, the funds saved will be contributed to planting trees within the community.