Businesses give for Toy Challenge
Photos by Peggy Barringer
ALBION – Ellie the Elephant is one of many gifts donated in a Toy Challenge by local businesses.
The toys will be sorted and given to local families by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
The Toy Drive Committee includes, from left: Kris Hartwig, administrative assistant at S & B Whistler & Sons (Phinney Tool & Die) in Medina; Leslie Blake from Western New York Energy in Medina; Wendy Hinkley, volunteer; Carolyn Wagner, human resource manager at BMP in Medina; Marsha Rivers, executive director for Orleans County United Way; and Anni Skowneski, case manager for Community Action.
Many local businesses and organizations gave to the effort. The toys will be categorized by gender and age group. The volunteers have “Wish Lists” for the kids and they come in and pick out the toy to match or closely match the wish list items.
They bag the items and then the families come in to pick up the bag of toys. Kris Hartwig said it is good method for the families to be a part of the gift-giving process. They can see the children open up the gifts on Christmas morning.
“We are thankful for every donation received,” Skowneski said. “Every child deserves a present on Christmas.”
Toys are sorted and categorized in the basement of the First Baptist Church in Albion. Community Action will try to match the toys up with about 350 local families.
