Christmas boxes from MAAC get special delivery by firefighters to more than 300 people

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Sherry Tuohey (left), head of MAAC’s Christmas Barrel program, and Norma Jean Foster make a last-minute check of boxes that will be delivered today to families in need in the Medina area. Families served are one-third higher than last year.

MEDINA – MAAC’s Christmas Barrel program came to a conclusion for another year on Saturday, with the delivery of gift boxes to more than 300 individuals, more than 170 of them children.

Sherry Tuohey, who heads the annual Christmas project, said MAAC provided Christmas gifts and dinner to one-third more people than last year. The packed boxes filled the dining room and the entryway of the church.

She said there was such a need in the community, especially since year they had homeless families to provide for this year.

“We live in a wonderful community,” Tuohey told the dozens of firefighters who came to breakfast at the Grove United Methodist Church before setting out to deliver all the boxes. “People are so giving.”

East Shelby Fire Chief Debbie Taylor and her husband Jeff, along with Josh Fuller, load Christmas boxes in their truck for delivery.

Tuohey thanked all the people who helped her – Kathie McMoil who takes charge of personal care items, most of which are donated by Medina High School students and staff; Norma Jean Foster, who does all the food shopping; Barb Vreeland, president of MAAC, who coordinates the drive for hats, mittens and socks; the Boy Scouts who helped carry items up from the basement; and importantly, Medina firefighters who distribute the barrels in November and pick them up in early December; and the firefighters from Medina, East Shelby, Ridgeway and Shelby who volunteer to deliver the filled boxes to families in the Medina area.

Tuohey said she has a wonderful group who work with her. The MAAC Christmas Barrel program is really a year-long project.

“All year long, I’m shopping for deals,” she said.

Chief Matt Jackson and Captain Jon Higgins from Medina Fire Department, standing at left, and firefighter/paramedic Steve Miller load a pickup with Christmas boxes for delivery on Saturday.

Medina fire chief Matt Jackson said the firefighters look forward to the project every year.

“We’ve done it so many years, it goes pretty smooth now,” he said.

Gordie and Sandy Smith of Medina are relatively new volunteers, this being the second year they have helped. When Tuohey announced how tired they were after sorting all the gifts and packing the boxes, Sandy said, “But it’s so rewarding.”

Sherry Tuohey, head of MAAC’s Christmas Barrel program, welcomes firefighters from Medina, East Shelby, Ridgeway and Shelby to breakfast Saturday morning at The Grove United Methodist Church. Firefighters delivered Christmas boxes to more than 300 individuals who applied for assistance.

When the firefighters picked up the filled barrels and returned them to the church, volunteers then spent several days sorting the donations into categories of ages, and boys and girls. Then on Monday and Tuesday, they started to pack the boxes. Each family got a ham, canned fruit and vegetables and multiple gifts for each child in the family.

This year, MAAC provided Christmas boxes to 28 seniors, all of whom received food, personal care items and a crocheted lap robe, made and donated by Jane Wharram of Medina.

In concluding, Tuohey told the room full of MAAC volunteers and firefighters, “We really appreciate you.”

Don Marchner, a volunteer with Ridgeway Fire Department, carries out a Christmas box to his truck. In back, Lt. Steve Cooley with Medina Fire Department talks to fellow firefighters before beginning to load their vehicles.