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While it was not a record year for toy donations with the California Highway Patrol & Impact Lifes Toy Drive, many families and children will enjoy the charitable works of others this Christmas.
Volunteers on Saturday manned the makeshift Toy Shop, at Burchfield Elementary School, as parents came through looking for gifts for their children. In all, 127 families gathered toys for over 300 children. Last year, 139 families received toys.
Impact Life Thrift Store Manager, Amy Gerrard said the distribution day went well and that although toy donations and monetary donations were down this year, one community had an abundant amount of donations.
” Just about every location in Arbuckle toys were overflowing the barrels,” said Gerrard, ” however, pretty much all of the barrels were full throughout the 40 collection locations.
As parents selected toys for their children, volunteers were available to help wrap presents – making the gift extra special. Santa even made a visit to help boost the holiday spirit.
” I have been doing this for about five years now since I retired,” said Nancy Hull, former school teacher, ” it becomes an annual tradition. I enjoy it!
With the help of a generous donator, two bicycles were awarded to 9-year-old Juan Velazquez of Williams, and 7-year-old Diego Huerta, of Williams.