Lighthouse Toy Shoppe shares the joy of giving, receiving
Parents whose children might otherwise have no presents under the tree selected six free gifts for each child Saturday and had them wrapped at the annual Lighthouse Foundation Toy Shoppe.
Theresa Rodriguez, the foundation's Toy Shoppe coordinator, said nearly 200 families signed up this year to receive toys for 360 children.
Parents selected gifts for children age newborn to 12 from huge tables of toys sorted by age range inside Bakerstown Methodist United Church in Gibsonia.
Each child gets two large toys and four smaller gifts from the tables.
Parents of teenagers could pick three gift cards of $25 each from various businesses.
“They're hard to shop for,” Rodriguez said.
In addition to the toys, parents and grandparents selected a board game, a stuffed animal and a stocking full of goodies for each child.
After choosing their children's gifts, shoppers and their volunteer assistant carried the items in large bags — which were donated by T.J. Maxx — to a wrapping room.
There, parents could select small “freebie” gifts, which consisted of gloves, scarves, blankets, purses, books, craft sets and other items.
Volunteers then wrapped the gifts in festive donated paper and placed them in huge black garbage bags.
The bags were even carried to the car by volunteers.
Christmas music played throughout the church as 100 volunteers in Christmas sweatshirts and other Christmas garb scurried about like Santa's elves.Starbucks donated coffee and Valencia Donuts donated its confections.A foundation board member also purchased some of the 20 dozen donuts available for shoppers.Due to the coronavirus pandemic, those who signed up were given a time to arrive and waited in chairs in the lobby until they were called by a volunteer.Masks were provided to those without one, as a face covering was required for everyone in the building.Once assigned a volunteer shopping assistant, parents and grandparents were taken to the tables where toys corresponded to their children's ages.The thrilled shoppers, many of whom are clients at the foundation's food pantry, then selected their toys and gifts to put under the tree.“There is a desire for a parent to provide a joyful Christmas morning to their children, but if you live in poverty, it's difficult to provide a big Christmas,” Rodriguez said. “We relieve that burden.”She said each parent or grandparent receives about $200 in gifts for each child.“That's an electric bill or a part of their rent,” Rodriguez said.Every single item taken home by the underprivileged who shopped for them was donated, Rodriguez said.Many families, businesses, churches or neighborhoods collect toys to donate to the Toy Shoppe, which has been held each year since 1985.
Through the generosity of those locals, the Toy Shoppe this year was able to offer 2,500 toys and 300 gift cards to participants.“This year, we had extra space, so we opened it up to anyone who called our office and needed help,” Rodriguez said.Those accepted for the program cannot be similarly served through any other agency, and foundation members check with other agencies to ensure no one is double dipping.“We had one woman who had a house fire and lost everything,” Rodriguez said. “She just called yesterday.”Tara of Jefferson Township waited as a volunteer wrapped the items she had chosen for her son and daughter.Saturday morning represented the second year Tara has shopped for her kids at the Lighthouse Foundation Toy Shoppe.“Everyone helping is very kind, helpful and thoughtful,” Tara said. “They don't make you feel like it's coming out of their pocket.”She is amazed at the options available on the tables.“It takes a lot of pressure off of you,” Tara said, “and the fear of only giving the kids stuff from the discount store.”Robin of East Butler chatted with her volunteer shopping assistant as she waited to have her items wrapped for her child.“It's amazing,” Robin said of the Toy Shoppe. “God bless these people.”She said it would be very difficult to provide a sufficient Christmas for her child without the program.“I would get it done no matter what, but it would be hard,” Robin said.
Diane McBurney of Allison Park served as a volunteer at the Toy Shoppe Saturday as a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Gibsonia.“Their faces light up, and they are so excited because they just can't afford to get their children brand new stuff like this,” McBurney said. “Sometimes the mothers cry, and then I cry too.”Patrick Mico, 15, of Adams Township, volunteered at the Toy Shoppe for the third straight year.On Saturday, he wrapped gifts with his mother.“It makes me appreciate what I have and what I can do,” Patrick said. “The Toy Shoppe makes sure every kid has something to open and something to be happy about on Christmas morning.”Victoria Spreng, executive director at the Lighthouse Foundation, dressed in a Mrs. Claus jumper for the occasion.“We really are extra blessed to be able to have parents come shop for their children safely,” Spreng said. “Showing people the love of Christ during a difficult time is truly what the holidays are all about.”She said parents are especially excited to be able to choose presents from those stacked on the tables as opposed to being handed gifts their children may or may not have asked for.“We just want to love everyone right where they are because that's how Jesus loves us,” Spreng said.
