The Morden Fire Department and Morden Police Department are helping bring some extra cheer into the city. Both departments are partnering with the Morden Christmas Cheer Board to collect toy and food donations for Christmas hampers that will be going to families in need.

"They help us and we help them," says Megan Andrew, Public Relations rep with the Cheer Board.

Andrews says they tailor each hamper to the family, adding the community has greatly supported the work the Cheer Board is doing.

Fire Chief Andy Thiessen says the Fire Department tries to "help out people that are maybe a little less fortunate and to help out at least once a year. We try to do it more than that, but this is just another avenue for us to partake."

For any families that stop by the fire hall, the staff are offering a free tour of the building.

However, due to a scheduling conflict, there is no Guns and Hoses Hockey Game happening between the two departments, but there will naturally be a bit of friendly competition throughout the toy drive. Constable Devin Bell from the Morden Police Service says when it comes down to it, the toy and food drive is about much more than that.

"For both departments, it means a lot to be able to help out, but the real people behind this, the people from the Christmas Cheer Board, they're the ones that do this every year . . . It's a lot of work that they do and I think it touches a lot of people's lives every year," says Constable Bell.

He adds, "any time we team up with the fire guys it's always a great thing, we have a great working relationship with them."

Donations can be dropped off at either location until December 18, but toys donated after the date will still be put to use.

The final day for hamper applications is December 11.