Drive-Through Toy Drive this Year
With long lines for food distribution and increased financial strains on the community due to COVID-19, the spirit of giving may be critical this holiday season in Butler County.
Early indications from some local Marine Toys for Tots Foundation toy drives reflect the challenges the county continues to face.
“Looking at what we have right now, we're going to be down on toys,” said Gunnery Sgt. Chad Krumpe, Toys for Tots coordinator for Butler County. “What I'm hoping is that we'll be able to raise more money (for additional toys).”
Collections continue through the week, and he said he will have a better indication of their remaining needs Tuesday.
Krumpe said he thinks part of the problem is due to the number of businesses that have employees working from home. Companies that would ordinarily have holiday parties and toy drives are unable to.
While that may be the case, he said he's also seen increased numbers of toys at some donation sites that ordinarily collect fewer toys.“I've gotten stuff in places we usually don't get,” he said.One local company decided they were going to keep their nine-year holiday toy drive tradition alive.Chuck Swidzinski and Jared Sullivan of the Chuck Swidzinski Team with Berkshire Hathaway insisted on hosting the team's annual Toys for Tots fundraiser Thursday at the Brick House, albeit in a scaled back manner.“Everybody seems to be hurting,” Swidzinski said describing the desire to continue the drive.“Our goal is the toys, not the event,” he said. “More people need toys than ever.”In a normal year, the drive typically brings in more than 2,000 toys along with substantial cash donations, according to Sullivan.Instead of packing the party with hundreds of people, the group offered a drive-up gift dropoff this year along with reduced capacity inside the restaurant.
“It's been a challenge,” Sullivan said. “I think the biggest challenge is how to fund raise and still be safe.”While the two reported a higher number of toys dropped off at their realty office, overall toy collection was not as high as in previous years.“It's definitely down,” Sullivan said Thursday. “Normally, you can't see the dance floor (where toys are collected).”“It's disappointing,” Swidzinski said, “(but) we still got toys, and we got a lot of monetary donations.”Last year, the countywide Toys for Tots efforts distributed 19,550 toys, according to the foundation's website. Monetary donations can still be made online at butler-pa.toysfortots.org and toy collections will continue into next week.Krumpe said Toys for Tots will be able to buy additional toys if it falls short on donations.“We can usually overcome the toys (shortage),” he said “What we need is volunteers.”The local chapter of the foundation is looking for volunteers to help with collections, sorting and distribution of gifts. Volunteers will collect toys from participating businesses and sort them at the program's warehouse at the Clearview Mall Monday. Families will pick up gifts Dec. 9 to 13.
