ST. CHARLES • Fans of the fired Sugar Plum Fairy have come up with a sweet way to show support.

Mike Swart, who started a Facebook page to save the Sugar Plum Fairy's job, is organizing a food drive that includes sweets as well as traditional food pantry items. He's hoping the thousand-plus people who have "liked" the Facebook page will participate.

"They can bring a bag of sugar, a pack of cookies, some candy — things the Sugar Plum Fairy might endorse — or canned goods," said Swart, of St. Charles. "I think we should harness the passion and the excitement everybody has here and do something good with it."

Laura Coppinger, 29, who portrayed the character at the annual Christmas Traditions festival on historic Main Street for the last six years, was fired for cursing, not on the job, but when she went to take a drug test mandated for all city employees.

She accidentally flushed the toilet, which is prohibited. When she was told she would have to wait at the drug testing facility until she could provide another urine sample, she said she swore out of frustration because the delay meant she would miss a job interview. She was told a short time later to go home.

The city's human resources department said she violated the code of conduct for a Christmas Traditions character, one that prohibits them from saying "naughty words."

Coppinger tried to apologize, but the city told her it was too late.

She said she has gotten an outpouring of support since she went public Saturday with her story.

"It's very exciting to know that Sugar Plum Fairy has inspired so many people and has made people's Christmases and that people are standing up for her and for me as the actress playing her," she said.

Coppinger, who lives in St. Louis, also has worked elsewhere as an actress and is a substitute teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools.

Attempts to reach St. Charles officials on Monday were unsuccessful. A city spokeswoman previously declined to comment, saying the city wouldn't discuss a personnel issue.

Several merchants on Main Street continued Monday to express dismay at Coppinger's firing.

"I'm just really disappointed that common sense can't win out," said Chris Stergos, owner of Patches Quilt & Button Shoppe.

"We rely on the reputation of what we do down here, and this really puts us in such a negative light."

Stergos said several people have suggested that the merchants hire Coppinger as a private contractor to work the monthlong festival.

"I'd be all for it," she said. "The Sugar Plum Fairy always has been one of the biggest attractions."

Swart said he decided to organize the food drive as a positive form of protest after he couldn't get any response from phone messages he left with the city.

Those who want to drop off sweets or canned goods can do so from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday at Grandma's Cookies, 401 South Main Street.

Coppinger said she is happy that her story has taken a positive turn.

"I think it's lovely, absolutely wonderful that something good is coming out of this after all," she said.