ations in Wright City is in its final days, and organizers say they’ve already collected hundreds of toys, coats, gloves and hats to give to local children this Christmas.
The Wright City …
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ations in Wright City is in its final days, and organizers say they’ve already collected hundreds of toys, coats, gloves and hats to give to local children this Christmas.
The Wright City toy drive runs until this Friday, Dec. 4. Participating organizations are collecting items in barrels decorated with various themes, as well as cash donations for further toy purchases. All of the donations will go to help local families in need have a happy Christmas.
The toy drive kicked off early this year in October, with an online collection that ran until Nov. 23.
“We collected 302 items, including toys, winter apparel and diapers,” said organizer Kelly Hill with Shelter Insurance. “Those items are being shipped to Parents as Teachers. They should arrive by the end of the week.”
Parents as Teachers is an organization that works to support families in the Wright City School District. The group has identified at least 40 families struggling with financial challenges, who will receive items through the toy collection.
Hill said the virtual collection added an effective new element to the toy collection, especially in a year when many donors might not want to go shopping in person.
“In 2021 we’ll do the virtual again. The only thing I don’t know at this point is how the shipping and delivery is going to go,” Hill commented.
For the in-person portion of the toy collection that ends this week, Hill said more businesses have joined in this year, compared to last. The overall goal is to collect 1,000 toys or clothing items that can be donated to local families.
So far, she said it looks like they could be on track to beat that goal.
“So many of the businesses were pushing the toy drive out on social media and in emails. I think more people were aware of the toy drive this year,” Hill commented. “I think the longer this toy drive goes, the more residents and customers will become familiar with it and automatically know around this time of year that there’s a toy drive.”
One of the most successful collection points this year has been at Wright City Hardware. Staff at the store said they’ve made a special effort to ask customers to donate. Along with more toys than their barrel and an extra chest can fit, the store has collected over $400 to buy more gifts.
“It takes all of us to make it work. We just love our little town, and we want to make sure everyone’s happy,” said Wright City Hardware employee Rainey Hoffman. “There’s no child that should ever be without. There’s too many of us who have lived in those places, and we’re just trying to make the next generation better.”
Businesses and groups participating in the toy collection include Hanny’s Market, StLouisianaQ, Survant Heating and Cooling, Shelter Insurance, Wright City Hall, Wright City Fire Protection, Legacy Drugstore, Gens Auto and Tire, Liberty Christian Academy, FMB Bank, Wright City Hardware, Our Hair Salon, Wright Stop, and First State Community Bank.
Ashford Motors, Ivie League Homes, Mittler Bros., Town and County Garage, Westbound Real Estate, and the Wright City Chamber of Commerce participated in the online portion of the collection.
The toy drive is organized in partnership between Parents as Teachers, Kelly Hill Shelter Insurance, and the Wright City Community Food Pantry.
