TRC wraps up another successful toy drive

“Twas the weeks before Christmas and throughout TRC, There were piles and piles of toys as far as the eye could see. The community came through and volunteers took the lead, To help make the holidays brighter for area children in need.”

Christmas may have come and gone, but the smiles on the faces of more than 2,500 underprivileged children will last well beyond the holiday season.

That’s because The Resource Center has wrapped up another successful year as the coordinator for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots drive in Chautauqua County.

“There are so many stories out there, that they just break your heart,” said Mike Volk, TRC’s Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services.  “There are so many people in need, and the community really responded well given the number of toys we collected and the amount of cash sent.”

Mike, along with fellow Toys for Tots coordinators Heather Brown and Terri Johnson, reported that a record 2,589 children (from 986 families) were served this year.  That’s up from 2,219 children and 845 families last year.

“As you can see by the numbers, we exceeded the number of families and children this year,” noted Volk.  “I think we were more visible out in the community this year.”

While it’s tough to account for how many new families were served this year compared to the number of repeat recipients, Volk said, “I think because of the economy, there are a lot more people out of work and in need of the help.”

In an effort to provide that help, about a hundred collection barrels were placed in various locations throughout the county, for people to drop off new toys.  At the same time, applications to receive toys were being accepted at local social service agencies.  Families that weren’t able to do that had several other opportunities to fill out an application.

“It’s a pretty strict application process,” said Mike.  “Applicants need to meet the poverty guidelines, bring proof of household income as well as identification of their children living in the household.”

Children from birth to age 17 living at home were eligible to receive toys.  Cash donations were also accepted to help purchase items for children in age groups that didn’t have enough donated toys to meet the need.  All money raised and toys donated stay in Chautauqua County.  Distribution of those toys took place in Jamestown and Dunkirk in the days leading up to Christmas, with several volunteers sorting and bagging toys for the families to pick up.

“It takes a lot of volunteers to make this happen,” Mike said, “from the collecting, the sorting, bagging, and distributing.  Without them, it wouldn’t happen.”

Heather, Director of Individualized Services, Article 16 Clinic and New Vision Services, Inc., reported that there were a large number of volunteers this year, including many TRC employees and service recipients.  She said staff and residents from the Individualized Residential Alternative on Falconer Street in Jamestown came down to help bag toys, then volunteered to deliver toys to Dunkirk.

"I would like to thank the 120-plus volunteers who came on Sunday (December 19) to help select and distribute toys," Heather said.  "I would also like to thank the social events that were held at a variety of local business and clubs who collected Toys at their annual celebrations."

"We had a fantastic season," said Terri, TRC's Employment Services Administrator.  "I'd like to thank everyone in the community that donated or volunteered.  We could not do it without them.  We had a record year for applicants, so our concern of not having enough toys to `deliver' crept back in this year, but we had one of our best years with donations as well.  Everything seemed to be in line with each other.  We were very lucky.

"I'd also like to thank all of the TRC staff that assisted us again this year.  It's a busy time for everyone, and it means so much to us that people unselfishly take time out of their busy schedules to help. 

"As always, we are hit with touching stories that make us want to do this every year.  This year was no different — no job, or bad family situations , or just plain, old, down-on-your-luck stories."

Mike, Heather and Terri have been the lead coordinators of the Toys for Tots drive since first having TRC take on the responsibility of conducting the county-wide drive 10 years ago.

“We’re just so very grateful for all the help and support we get in Chautauqua County,” said Mike.

Click here to see the list of businesses that supported the 2010 Toys for Tots drive.