Butler Township teen raises money, buys gifts for Toys for Tots
A 15-year-old boy from Butler Township is making sure kids his age who are less fortunate get gifts they can use for Christmas.
Cameron Laskowski raised more than $1,000, which Krill Recycling of Fenelton matched with $1,000 and his father's plumbing business, Laskowski Plumbing, matched with $550, to buy gifts he selected for kids his age through Toys for Tots.
“We raised $3,282 in total,” Cameron said.
He raised most of the money through his Facebook page many of the donations came from teens he competes against in the U.S. Practical Shooting Association and Steel Challenge handgun shooting competitions.
“The cool part of that is when we travel for our shooting events we meet people all over the country. I got most donations that way. People would personally reach out to us. We got donations from all over,” Cameron said. “The $1,046 in donations is from the competitors that I shot with.”
When he contacted officials with Toys for Tots in Butler County, he was told gifts for children 12 to 15 years old were needed this year.
“You can see the glow on his face. He's not just grabbing toys of the shelf,” said Cameron's dad, Jim. “He thinks about what will make Christmas morning really special.”
Knowing what kids his age want, Cameron chose tech devices like Bluetooth headphones and wireless speakers for gifts, said his mother, Dana.
“It was hard to find gifts for older kids. We focused on that. Cam is that age. He had a good idea of what kids that age need and want,” she said.
After collecting the donations and spending several evenings buying gifts at various stores, the Laskowskis took the presents to a county sheriff's department vehicle parked outside of Sam's Club where Sheriff Mike Slupe was accepting donations for the annual “stuff the cruisers” toy drive Saturday.
The Laskowskis' brought more gifts than would fit in the cruiser so they delivered them in one of Jim's work vans.
Jim said state police and some of his customers brought toys to the stuff the cruiser collection.
Butler Township police had a cruiser at Walmart to accept donations the same day.
All the gifts and toys were then taken to the Toys for Tots distribution center at the Clearview Mall. County residents who registered to receive toys will be able to pick them up on Dec. 12, 13 and 14.
“It makes us very proud that he does this. You don't hear of many 15-year-old boys doing good things these days. We're just happy he likes to give back,” Dana said.
Jim said he and Cameron were out two years ago when they saw Slupe, whom he knows, outside of Sam's Club collecting toys to stuff the cruiser.
“We just happened to be in the area. Me and Cameron bought some toys and gave them to Sheriff Slupe. Cameron decided he wanted to do more,” Jim said. “He did it last year and this year.”
Cameron raised $1,900 for toys and gifts in 2017.
This year, Cameron bought 249 gifts and people donated 225 toys toward his effort. All 474 gifts and toys were donated to Toys for Tots.
“My goal was to do better than last year and we definitely did. I will do it again next year,” Cameron said. “I haven't set a goal yet, but I probably will soon.”
