By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
Collection boxes have started appearing across local communities as eastern Canadian County’s annual holiday toy drive gets underway.
More than 1,000 youth are expected to be served this year by Santa’s Toy Shoppe, although the exact number won’t be known until all applications are received in mid-November.
This volunteer-led program encourages people to donate toys and gifts to give away at Christmas time to less fortunate eastern Canadian County children, ages newborn to 15 years.
The annual effort benefits “anyone who needs toys, anyone who has a situation where they cannot provide toys for their children,” said Santa’s Toy Shoppe President Jim Poe.
“We cover eastern Canadian County,” he added.
Another non-profit group, Blessing Baskets, collects Christmas toys in western Canadian County.
About 20 to 25 toy donation boxes will be placed in eastern Canadian County banks, businesses and doctor’s offices and fire departments in Yukon and Mustang.
“We tend to be put the boxes in places that receive ‘repeat business’,” Poe said. “If a customer comes in and is not prepared (to donate a toy), maybe they’ll remember the next time they come. That’s why banks have been so good for us.”
The fire departments are the most popular locations for people to bring their toy donations.
All types of new, unwrapped gifts are welcome, though Poe emphasized items are especially needed for youth ages 11-15 years.
“And we can always use cash donations, which we use to purchase gifts.”
Distribution day will be Saturday, Dec. 15 but the location has not been finalized. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles of recipient children “shop” for the toys at this event.
Santa’s Toy Shoppe was started in 1999 by the Salvation Army, and Poe has been an integral part of the program since its inception.
“Over the years, we’ve helped well over 15,000 children,” he said.
There are several primary reasons families need help providing Christmas gifts for these children, specifically divorce, loss of a parent’s job and loss of a child’s parent(s).
In the Christmas Spirit
Poe explained why he enjoys heading up Santa’s Toy Shoppe each year.
“My wife tells me it gets me in the ‘right Christmas spirit’,” he said. “I enjoy seeing it all coming together.
“I also enjoy the camaraderie of all the people who help, some in small ways and some in large ways.”
Various school and civic groups help organize all the toys before distribution day in mid-December.
Poe tells volunteers that “kids and families that you’ve never met are receiving a benefit that you are providing.”
Tax-deductible monetary donations for the holiday effort may be mailed to: Santa’s Toy Shoppe, P.O. Box 850011, Yukon, OK 73085.
