SPIRIT OF GIVING
Grateful parents receive toys for their tots
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 11:08 pm
By Jeff Bahr
Paige Walker will be a very happy 9-year-old Friday morning, when she gets a brand new pink bicycle.
Paige doesn’t know she’s getting it, so keep it under your hat.
“This is a big surprise for her,” said her mother, Jennifer, who left the Toys for Tots distribution on Tuesday with about 10 presents for her daughter and 4-year-old son, Vincent.
Ciara Bolte got six or seven toys for her 3-year-old daughter, Alayna. She figured her daughter would like the stuffed animal the most. Bolte, who is a college student, said the Toys for Tots giveaway is good for people who don’t have a lot of money for presents.
Walker and Bolte were among 906 families scheduled to receive toys at the Toys for Tots distribution, which was at Fonner Park’s 4-H Cafe.
The people involved in Toys for Tots know it is better to give than to receive.
“This is all about giving,” said Jodi Fegley, one of the personal shoppers who was helping parents pick out toys for their children.
“We’re all having a great time,” said Fegley, in her second year as a personal shopper.
“I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces,” said 16-year-old Kyanne Bowden, another personal shopper.
Close to 150 volunteers were helping to make sure the event went smoothly. Toys for Tots is coordinated by Heartland United Way.
“I love the fact that we’re able to make sure that each child has a gift under the tree,” said Bonnie Westfall, United Way development director. “Parents don’t have to stress out about the fact that their money needs to be allocated” for food or other basic needs.
Parents who are struggling to meet basic needs don’t have time to think about Christmas gifts, Westfall said.
Nicolle Ventura picked up about 20 toys for her four kids, who are 8, 6, 4 and 10 1/2 months. If not for the toys she got on Tuesday, those kids would have gotten a few things for Christmas “but not much,” she said.
Parents from four counties converged on the event, which featured 4,000 to 5,000 toys.
Many of the toys were donated to Toys for Tots by generous people who live in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties.
Many also come from the U.S. Marine Corps. The Omaha office of the Marine Corps “coordinates the statewide effort to collect toys and to purchase toys,” Westfall said. “The Marines do a tremendous job, and they bring us a good portion of our toys.”
Sgt. Eon Lemburg of the Marine Corps Reserve, who was in attendance, said close to $17,000 in cash was donated this year at Toys for Tots collection boxes in this area. About $11,000 of that total was contributed in Grand Island, the rest in Kearney and Hastings. A couple of people dropped off $100 checks, said Lemburg, a graduate of Centura High School.
Sue Pirnie, another personal shopper, said it’s fun helping people choose the right gifts for their children. It’s also interesting “just to meet and talk with them,” she said. Pirnie is pleased that Heartland United Way organizes the project for those less fortunate.
Krystal Vodehnal, who has been a personal shopper for eight years, said many of the parents “are so grateful for this program.” Her employer, the Principal Financial Group, gives her time off to volunteer, she said.
Northwest High School industrial technology teacher Keith Dubas had 13 kids from his class helping on Tuesday. The class is building a Habitat for Humanity house. Tuesday’s volunteer work gave the students a close-up view of the kind of people they’re helping, Dubas said.
Other groups volunteering included the Grand Island Senior High cheerleaders and Key Club.
Parents who wish to receive free toys for their kids submit an application online, beginning in early October.
“Those applications are verified through service and helping organizations,” Westfall said. Parents receive a letter in the mail telling them whether their application has been approved.
In addition to toys, organizers try to give each family a book and a game.
“We really want to encourage families to sit down together and interact,” Westfall said.