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Volunteers help Toys for Tots spread Christmas cheer

Alexandra Carroll, 8, and her mother Amanda Carroll sort through piles of toys Friday to prepare for distribution on Saturday morning. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

PARKERSBURG — For Christmas 2019, the Mid-Ohio Valley Toys for Tots program received over 30,000 toys, to be spread out among 4,000 kids.

“The Mid-Ohio Valley has been very giving to those less fortunate and has made what could be a tremendous shortfall into yet another successful campaign,” said Cliff Hecker, coordinator of Mid-Ohio Valley Toys for Tots.

Hecker said the 4,000 kids are spread among five counties in both West Virginia and Ohio.

“The volunteers that work seemingly endless hours thoroughly enjoy bringing the gift of hope, that someone cares, to those in need here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. From fundraising, standing in the cold and rain doing live toy drives to the final outcome of 16-18 hour days during the final distribution, these folks work tirelessly just to make sure that we live up to our motto of ‘Every Child Deserves A Little Christmas,'” he said.

Toys for Tots operates solely on volunteers. The entire program depends on people volunteering and donating.

Stephanie Myers and Hannah Mulinex, with Big Reds Archery, stuff bags Saturday morning for distribution. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

“The volunteers really make a difference, we are thankful,” said Hecker.

This was the second year the men of Recovery Point came to volunteer their time.

“They have put in well over 20 hours a piece and it has been so amazing working with them,” said Hecker.

Hecker said he was a little hesitant at first to work with the men in Recovery Point, but he has found them to be courteous, polite and good hard workers.

Hecker said working with Toys for Tots has really changed his perspective on Christmas, making it more about how he can give and help others, and he hopes other volunteers share this gained perspective.

Denise Gibson, who is with Recovery Point, sorts toys by age and gender after unloading a truck. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

“I have been with Toys for Tots 25 years now,” said Hecker.

“My first year it was really only me and a few others. We reached 26 kids and thought we were doing something, making a real difference,” he said.

“Fast forward to our second year and we reached 84 kids, and I thought we were making a difference then,” he said.

“That number has continued to grow and now here we are 25 years later, able to reach 4,000 kids in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” Hecker said.

The number of kids that are reached really depends on those volunteer numbers, Hecker said. He said unfortunately he does not see the number of children needing to be reached ever going down.

Lana Maxon and Jason Maxon hand out bags of toys to parents Saturday morning. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

On Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., volunteers sorted through all the donations at Grace Gospel Church in Pettyville by age range and gender, so that they could be bagged up to give to the families on Saturday.

“There are six to eight toys in each bag,” Hecker said, “not counting stuffed animals, stocking stuffers and books.

“We try to make sure there is at least one large and one very good quality toy for each child,” he said.

Hecker said they had to go out Friday night and spend $3,000 on gifts for boys and girls 11-13.

Kindra Hecker, Cliff Hecker’s daughter and lifelong volunteer, said the teens are always lacking, and most years so are the babies.

Volunteers unload bins and sort through the toys Friday in preparation for Saturday’s distribution for Toys for Tots. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Kindra said Toys for Tots looks for items like make-up, hair care items, purses, brushes, DIY kits and bath bombs for the girls, and cologne, small drones, speakers, sports items and dart boards for the boys.

“We can’t do video games, but there are many other items especially outdoor ones that will keep teens entertained and not break wallets,” she said.

For babies, items such as large foam puzzles, teething rings, light up and musical toys and large blocks are all great options.

“We are fortunate for the amount of toys and money donations we receive to help provide the area kids a good Christmas,” said Kindra.

Cliff Hecker noted the local organization has had 42 toy drives, a life size Toys for Tots Express Train (thanks to Morris Drennen), four parades, six fundraisers and more to help area families. They don’t save any toys for next year, anything left over goes to United Way and other church outreach programs to deliver to needy families that were not reached by Toys for Tots.

Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com

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