Toys for tickets drive is a success

November 19, 2011 at 5:00p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Joanne Wright had a look of relief on her face as she and her family walked away from the ticket window at the Covelli Centre on Saturday morning.

“We were in line for 40 minutes in the cold,” she said, smiling. “But it was worth it.”

Wright, her niece, Joy Brown, 24; nephew, Kyree Brown, 10; and great-niece Ja’Layia Brown, 2, were among nearly 200 people who showed up at the Covelli Centre to participate in the Youngstown YMCA’s holiday toy drive. Anyone who brought a new toy to the drive and donated it to the Y received a free ticket voucher to any available performance of the Disney On Ice production of Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey next month.

They also got a free ticket to Saturday night’s Youngstown Phantoms hockey game and a free guest pass to visit either of the Y’s facilities in Youngstown and Boardman, said Laura Bright, YMCA membership coordinator.

She said it was the first time the Y had conducted such an event, but hopes it will become an annual holiday happening.

“Youngstown really came out big today,” Bright said. “People were so generous, coming in with more than one toy, even though they were only getting one ticket voucher, and they were bringing in some really nice toys.”

Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com