43
Girl shares Christmas with toy drive
Photo
LENDING A HAND: Alexis Cintron, 8, of Austintown, shows off some of the gifts she's collected during her second annual Toys For Tots drive. She said she decided to start her own drive last year and hopes to double the 250 toys she collected in 2007. Toys can be dropped off at Spalon in Howland through Dec. 17.
By Elise Franco
An Austintown girl said helping less-fortunate children to have a good Christmas is the best gift of all.
HOWLAND — For Alexis Cintron, helping just one child during Christmas wasn’t enough.
The 8-year-old from Austintown said she loved participating in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program so much that last year she wanted to start her very own toy drive.
With the help of her mother, Lisa Cintron, and her aunt, Lori Naples, Alexis was able to donate 250 new toys in 2007 to Toys For Tots. This year she hopes to double that number.
“This all started when my mom brought me to pick an angel off a Christmas tree,” Alexis said. “Helping one kid was great, but I wanted to help a bunch.”
Lori said the whole family is proud of what Alexis has accomplished.
“She’s so sweet and genuine,” she said. “She came to us last year and said she wanted to do this drive, and collectively as a family we talked about Toys For Tots.”
The drive began Friday at Spalon by Sara Morris at 5000 East Market St. in Howland, and runs through Dec. 17.
Alexis said she was amazed when she walked into Spalon on Friday afternoon.
“We had a couple toys in the box [Thursday],” she said. “And all of a sudden, poof, these toys just came.”
Alexis said it’s even more important this year to help as many children as possible.
“It’s much more special because of the economy,” she said. “We really want to help a lot of kids this year.”
Alexis’ favorite part of the toy drive is the feeling she said she gets knowing she’s done good in her community.
“It gives me a warm feeling because I know I’ve collected so many toys,” she said. “Kids who didn’t have a Christmas, now they will.”
Alexis said those wishing to donate can bring new, unwrapped toys to Spalon during business hours through Dec. 17.
She said a local member of the Marine Corps will come to Spalon on the last day of the drive and pick up the toys.
Spalon hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Alexis said she’s been trying hard to get word out about the toy drive by talking to her third-grade class at Lloyd Elementary in Austintown, as well as to other local businesses.
“I just want people to know how amazing it is to do this, and I really need their help collecting,” Alexis said. “Without them none of this world be here, and a lot of kids wouldn’t get to have Christmas this year.”
efranco@vindy.com