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Anastasia Pranga chooses a stocking stuffer with the help of Toys for Kids of Jefferson County volunteers Joan Spotanski and Barbara Galbraith. Toy distribution was held on Friday, with a record number of volunteers available to help families choose toys for Christmas. TESA CULLI/REGISTER-NEWS
Toys for Kids distribution a success
By TESA CULLI
tesa.culli@register-news.com
MT. VERNON — About 900 area children will have a happy Christmas this year, thanks to the efforts of the volunteers with Toys for Kids of Jefferson County.
“The volunteers and the community have really been amazing,” said Rochelle Bond, co-president and treasurer of TFK. “We’ve had an overflow of volunteers and they’ve all just been wonderful to work with.”
Volunteers have spent the last week working to get everything ready for families to pick up presents by putting toys together to putting batteries in toys.
“God has really prevailed,” Bond said. “We even have a couple who are registered to receive gifts who stepped up and volunteered to help. ... There are lots of heartwarming stories. ... Those heart stories are what makes it all worthwhile.”
Last year, Bond said there was a gentleman who was dying, and couldn’t get out to pick out Christmas gifts for his family. Although the situation is outside that of TFK, volunteers went out and shopped for the items on his list. This year, someone donated bicycles specifically for some homeless children, and volunteers put the bicycles together for them, Bond said.
Although the toy distribution has ended, the non-profit organization is working to get the monetary donations that will cover all costs of operations this year. A fundraising event will be held today from noon to 4 p.m. at Once Upon a Lifetime Photography in which children can have their pictures taken with Santa for $5, and all proceeds will go to TFK. This is the third year the photography studio has donated its time for the fundraising event.
In addition, anyone who would like to send donations may do so by sending them to Toys for Kids of Jefferson County, c/o Curves, 301 N. 27th St., Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.
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