42 MAAC barrels delivered in Medina to be filled with Christmas presents
Photos by Ginny Kropf: These four Medina firefighters came to the Grove United Methodist Church on Wednesday morning to deliver 42 red barrels to local establishments, kicking off MAAC’s annual Christmas Present Program. From left are Lt. Adam Fisher, fire chief Steve Cooley, firefighter Steve Baxter and Lt. Tim Miller.
MEDINA – The Medina Area Association of Churches annual Christmas Present Program got underway Wednesday when Medina firefighters picked up and delivered 42 red barrels to local businesses, churches, schools and the library.
Fire chief Steve Cooley was accompanied by Lt. Adam Fisher, firefighter Steve Baxter and Lt. Tim Miller, and they loaded the barrels in ambulances and pickup trucks – to be filled by the community with toys and gifts for local families.
The red barrels evolved from the Medina firefighters who years ago collected old toys and refurbished them for delivery to Medina children.
“It was in the early 1930s with the Depression hitting the area hard that firemen collected toys which some children had outgrown or toys that were broken,” said fire chief Steve Cooley. “The toys were collected, repaired and or repainted and then Social Services redistributed them to those in need. It was considered one of the greatest community endeavors.”
With more toys changing to plastic and less firemen working in the 1970s, MAAC took over the program of collecting food, clothes and toys, Cooley said. The Medina Fire Department handled the logistics of getting out the barrels, collecting them and delivering the gifts.
“Currently, we receive assistance from Shelby, East Shelby and Ridgeway fire companies on gift delivery day,” Cooley said.
(Left) Lt. Tim Miller loads MAAC Christmas barrels on his pickup on Wednesday at the Grove United Methodist Church. Delivering barrels to local establishments is a tradition which goes back to the 1970s. They will pick up the filled barrels and return them to the church on Dec. 2, where toys and gifts will be sorted and packed into Christmas boxes for local families. (Right) Medina fire chief Steve Cooley, left, and Lt. Tim Miller discuss delivery of the MAAC Christmas barrels with Sherry Tuohey, who coordinates the annual Christmas Present Program.
Lt. Adam Fisher eagerly joined the effort on Wednesday, delivering the barrels into the community.
“I grew up here,” Fisher said, when asked why he was happy to help. “I was a scoutmaster, and this is my community. I’ve had family members who were helped by this program.”
When the full barrels are returned to the church on Dec. 2, volunteers begin the enormous task of sorting the donations into boys or girls, age appropriate and separating the clothing from books and games, said Sherry Tuohey-Sipple, who is in her ninth year of overseeing the program.
In addition to boys and girls up to 18, the program provides gifts for as many as 35 seniors. Gifts sought for seniors include puzzle books (especially large print), lap throws, socks, hats and gloves, and boxes of cookies.
Tuohey-Sipple said they are fortunate to have a lot of volunteers who help with this task and with packing the boxes. In addition to gifts for the children, each family gets food for Christmas dinner, including a ham.
She said there are six people on the Christmas Present Program, who are shopping all year.
“We are constantly looking for bargains,” she said. “We are blessed to have The Grove to store the barrels and use of the Fellowship Hall to sort donations and pack boxes.”
MAAC is always happy to accept cash donations, to help with the items they have to buy, to assure every child has a gift. Checks should be made payable to MAAC and sent to 536 Orient St., Medina, with a notation it is for the Christmas Present Program.
Information on how to apply is sent to all the schools, day cares and BOCES, Tuohey-Sipple said.
Families must apply during the second and third weeks of November at one of two locations – St. Peter Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 17; or at The Vine at 11031 Maple Ridge Rd. Medina, from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 12 and 19.
Families must show proof of eligibility by providing the following – proof household, proof of residence (must be in the Medina school district) and proof of income.
