Where to donate toys this holiday season

BUCYRUS - Local fire departments and Galion Kiwanis Club are on a mission to collect donations of new toys to distribute to area families in need this holiday season.

Bucyrus Fire IAFF Local 1120  is accepting new toys, non-perishable food items, and monetary donations through Dec. 1. All proceeds directly benefit area families. Local 1120 will use monetary donations to purchase coats for kids, as well as gift cards for area food banks.

Firefighter Brett Young, who serves as president of IAFF Local 1120, said the department is partnering with local churches, organizations, and businesses for the event.

He said food donations will go to New Day Ministries, which has a food pantry. If the drive receives a large number of food donations, items also will be taken to Good Hope Christian Church for the soup kitchen.

Local 1120 partners with Crawford County Jobs and Family Services to distribute coats to local kids in need.

Young said JFS provides a list of coats needed. Firefighters then take the monetary donations to Family, Farm, and Home to purchase coats at a special discounted price. The store also offers customers a chance to donate hats or gloves, which are then added to the coats JFS will distribute to local families.

Young said Local 1120 tries to keep a balance in the fund used to buy coats. If the department doesn't receive enough donations to cover the cost of the coats needed, the firefighters step up.

"If we don't reach that goal, we step in as a local," Young said. "We try to keep funds built if something were to happen." He said if there was an instance where a family was displaced around the holidays the union would use funds to help provide them with needs for the holiday.

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These Bucyrus donation drop-off locations will be open until Dec. 1: inside the front door at the fire station, 223 E. Mansfield St.; Kroger, 210 E. Mary St.; Family Dollar, 221 S. Lane St.; Dollar General, 933 Hopley Ave.; Family Farm and Home, 2460 E. Mansfield St.; Firelands Federal Credit Union, 2100 E. Mansfield St.; Peoples Savings and Loan, 300 S. Walnut St.; FC Bank, 105 Washington Square; Huntington Bank, 101 S. Sandusky Ave.; United Bank of Ohio, 401 S Sandusky Ave.; YMCA, 1655 E. Southern Ave.; and WQEL/WBCO, 403 E. Rensselaer St.

Galion

Galion Kiwanis Kids Toy Drive distribution will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 15 at the Lincoln Highway Professional Building, 102 Harding Way West, Galion. The entrance is at the rear of the building, off the alley. Paperwork from Ohio Heartland Community Action is required for community members to be eligible to receive toys.

Joe Kleinknecht, president, and CEO of the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce said this toy drive involves 25 volunteers from the local Kiwanis Club, Galion Key Club, and National Society.

"Last year we distributed toys to 100 families for 170 children, with each receiving four to five items," Kleinknecht said. "Our goal is always to meet the needs of all the children whose families are income eligible and we have always been able to do that, thanks to the generosity of the Galion Community."

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Citizens may drop off donations at any of the following box locations: 1803 Tap Room, Burger King, Cake & Icing, Community Center/YMCA, Dollar General East, Dollar General West, Drug Mart, Eagle Dance Studio, Firelands Federal Credit Union, First Federal Bank (two offices), Galion Building and Loan (two offices), Galion Dental Partners, Galion Fire Department; Galion Public Library, Galion Moose Club, H. R Wolf Hardware, Huntington Bank, KFC, Quays Drugs, Schilling Graphics, Tiger Blendz, Topia Boutique, United Bank and U.S. Bank.

Crestline

The Crestline police and fire departments are having a holiday toy drive through Dec. 15. The toys will be given to needy families in the Crestline community for the holiday season. New toys are being collected for all ages. Toys make be taken anytime to either department. The Crestline Fire Department will have its middle bay open for anyone to pull in from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and volunteers will unload toy donations for the drivers. For details, call Officer Dessenberg at 419-683-2222 or Firefighter Furry at 419-683-3823.

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