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Salvation Army Toy Shop provides presents to over 3,000 kids
YOUNGSTOWN
Parents and grandparents who otherwise couldn’t afford to put presents under the Christmas tree for the children in their families left the Salvation Army with bags of toys sure to put smiles on the faces of those kids.
Those happy shoppers participated Tuesday in the Mahoning County Salvation Army’s Christmas Toy Shop toy and food voucher distribution in the Austintown Plaza that will continue through Friday.
“I like it a lot,” said Elizabeth Crespo of Youngstown of the Christmas Toy Shop.
She found presents for her daughter and son and her unborn son who is due Thursday. “They will love it,” she said.
The Salvation Army helps a lot with food bags and meals, said Crespo, who attends church at the Salvation Army’s Hispanic services.
About 3,000 pre-registered needy children will receive Christmas toys and clothes, and about 1,500 needy families, individuals, men, women and the elderly will receive Christmas food vouchers that can be used at selected grocery stores.
Only people who are pre-registered can come this week, said Maj. Valerie Kahn, associate Mahoning County Salvation area coordinator.
If they miss their scheduled appointment, people can call the SA at 330-746-8405 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and arrangements will be made, she said.
“It is our prayer the gifts and food vouchers will help bring relief to brighten the lives of those in need during this wonderful season of peace and joy,” Kahn said.
“The gifts we give can’t compare to the gifts we get back when we see the faces of the shoppers when they find the gift their child asked for,” said Andrew Profanchik of Boardman, who is in his second year volunteering for the project.
A retired builder and land developer, Profanchik said he soon realized that being retired without a purpose can get lonely.
The problem was solved when a friend invited him to a Salvation Army board meeting. “I just fell in love with the goals of the Salvation Army,” he said.
Kahn said 109 eighth-graders from South Range Schools volunteered last week to help set up and decorate the toy shop, along with students from Canfield High School, Youngstown State University athletes, and members of the Austintown Fitch High School Interact Club, sponsored by the Austintown Rotary Club.
Darby Hepola, a senior at Canfield High School, enjoyed setting up the toy shop so much she volunteered to help shoppers.
“I’ll be here all week,” she said with a smile. “I like it a lot.”
Victor Morales Jr. of Youngstown learned about volunteering from his father, Victor Sr., who was big on volunteering.
“I’ve been doing this since I could walk,” said Morales, a member of the Ohio Army National Guard’s 838th Military Police Co. in Austintown. Morales served six years of active duty in the Army and has been deployed twice, once each to Iraq and Afghanistan. “I like helping kids out,” he said.
Kahn noted the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program provides most of the toys; but the Salvation Army also distributes 3,000 angel tops to private businesses in Mahoning County and the General Motors Lordstown Complex, which she said also gives a generous monetary donation.
The gratitude of the people and the generosity of the community are overwhelming, she said.