The mother of a missing four-year-old boy from Guysborough County is holding a toy drive for the IWK and Ronald McDonald House to honour his fifth birthday.
Oakley went missing April 17, after he fell into the water in Cooks Cove while fishing with family, on his way to visit relatives for Easter.
It prompted a 13-agency search that lasted until Saturday, April 19, when it was put on hold, until RCMP drones scoured the area again.
Macy Delorey tells our newsroom, Oakley had a “heart of gold” and “would give you the shirt off his back”, so the toy drive is a perfect way of giving back.
“We spent some time with the IWK ourselves and Oakley was also so giving, even with his siblings, his friends, playgroup. We loved getting little toys and stuff when we were up there,” says Delorey.
Oakley had surgery in October and spent a little over a month at the IWK. His favorite thing about his stay, she says, were the toys he received to take home and the “exciting” toys in the playroom.
“He’d always ask for extra toys to give to his siblings,” notes Delorey.
His favorite toys, she says, include spiderman, superheroes and baby shark.
Oakley’s favorite toys were placed on the bridge at Cooks Cove where he was fishing. Photo: The Search for Oakley/Facebook
Residents are still looking
Oakley has been missing for nearly two months now, but the community has not given up the search.
Residents continue to roam the shores every day where Oakley went missing, to try and bring the little boy home.
The areas they cover are posted on a Facebook page, The Search for Oakley.
Photo: The Search for Oakley/Facebook
Not only that, but the community also stepped up by doing a clothing order, bumper stickers and key chains to help the family.
A GoFundMe has also raised over $17,000.
Delorey says she has been assured by the RCMP that as soon as they have the resources, ground search and rescue will be out again.
Hundreds of volunteers have been searching for two young missing children in Pictou County.
Delorey says, what they want is to bring Oakley home to do a proper service, but they will do a memorial service in the meantime.
“We are hoping that somebody will find something whether it’s fisherman or the ground search, if they do come back, or the community members,” adds Delorey.
Toy Drive
Oakley’s birthday is July 20th, with the drop off date marked for the toy drive on July 22.
Delorey says it’s not only a great way to keep her family busy during such a difficult time but it’s also a chance to give back every single year.
In a post on Facebook, she says she hopes it will make him proud.
“Oakley, I promise to set the bar high for myself for your toy drive, every single year,” says the post.
Delorey tells us, she already has four full boxes of donations with more on the way.
They also plan on being at a couple of Walmart locations on the weekends leading up to the dates as well as other ways to show support.
“If you do see us and want to support the toy drive or if you don’t want to see us in public or you see us online…there’s all kinds of people volunteering to be drop offs in different locations,” says Delorey.
“We’ve received so much love and support from people near and far and we’re very grateful for all of that.”
