Library joins Food for Thought’s Christmas Toy Shop
(Released November 14, 2011) . . . Food for Thought, a local nonprofit that helps feed the less fortunate in and around the Toledo area, is again hosting a holiday Christmas Toy Shop for families served through its food pantry. Volunteers are working hard to ensure every child who uses Food for Thought services and is registered for the Shop, will receive presents on Christmas,” says Breanna Filas, volunteer Chair of the Christmas Toy Shop. “We are seeking community assistance in the form of quality, new and unwrapped toys for youth ranging from six months to 15-years-old to make this holiday season special for children who otherwise would not receive gifts.”
Partnering with Food for Thought this year is the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. “We are pleased to add our name to this very worthwhile cause,” said Clyde Scoles, Library Director. “The poverty statistics in the Toledo area, particularly among children, are heart-wrenching. Library administration and staff know that the holidays are about much more than gifts and toys, but we can only imagine the restored dignity and pride when families are able to provide for their children.”
Food for Thought is seeking QUALITY toys and gifts now through Sunday, December 11. Please – no used items - (think of items you would choose for children in your own family).
Below are the drop-off library locations for new toys. Look for the cardboard boxes with the red, green and white signs that read “Donate New Toys Here” at the following locations:
· Heatherdowns Branch Library, 3265 Glanzman Rd.
· Main Library, 325 Michigan St.
· Oregon Branch Library, 3340 Dustin Rd., Oregon, OH
· Reynolds Corners Branch Library, 4833 Dorr St.
· Washington Branch Library, 5560 Harvest Lane
The Christmas Toy Shop, now in its third year, is a volunteer effort that provides toys for families who do not have the resources to purchase them. On Saturday, December 17, New Harvest Christian Church in Oregon, OH, will be transformed into a Toy Shop whereby parents with a pre-appointed time will be able to select new toys on their own for their children. The number of children needing assistance has grown tremendously, according to Filas.
“Last year we provided toys for more than 650 children.
With our current economy, we are expecting record numbers this year. We will need to collect a lot of toys and gifts to meet the need,” Filas added.
Sam Melden, Chief Thought Officer of Food for Thought said volunteers have been working around the clock to obtain the toys need to match the number of families who have signed up for this year’s Christmas Toy Shop. Families began signing up in early October through the Food for Thought stationary and mobile food pantries. “Many of the patrons are working families who don’t have expendable income for non-essential items, including holiday presents,” said Melden.
What makes the Christmas Toy Shop unique is that parents are provided an opportunity to “shop” for their children from a selection of age appropriate toys. “Many times those in need are handed a box with a few toys that may or may not be something their child would be interested in,” explained Filas. “We like to provide parents with the joy of choosing the perfect items or their children, adding a sense of dignity to the experience; something that is often times lacking due to their need for assistance.”
Food For Thought is a local nonprofit serving Lucas County through multiple resources. What started as a small Saturday morning gathering, Food For Thought now serves sack lunches, including their famous PB&J, to more than 350 individuals every Saturday morning in downtown Toledo . Their choice pantries provide a variety of food and resources to those who may not otherwise have access to a pantry. The mobile food pantry and the Oregon food pantry housed in space donated by New Harvest Christian Church feed approximately 1,000 families every month.
For more information, please visit www.freelunchtoledo.com, or the social media outlets Facebook and Twitter, or call Food for Thought at 419.972.1997.
Press Release Contact Name: Rhonda Sewell
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Organization Name: Toledo Lucas County Public Library