(12/10) On December 1st, members of the Glade Valley Community Services, Inc. (GVCS) Toy Shoppe Committee prepared for parents to begin dropping by for the annual Holiday Toy Shoppe distribution. After three days of organizing gift bundles with clothing, toys, and books were ready for each family to pick up and take home for the holidays.
The GVCS Toy Shoppe Committee planning begins in October with an application process open to all families in the Walkersville feeder school-zone. During the first month, applications including a wish list are collected and reviewed for eligibility, followed by a community donation drive. The success of the event depends on the generosity of local churches, organizations, businesses, and residents to provide the requested items. Members of the Toy Shoppe Committee then compare the donations with the wish lists and anything that cannot be made up for with donations is purchased separately so no one goes without.
According to Mary Ann Brodie-Ennis and Ann Wadding, cochairs of the Holiday Toy Shoppe committee, parents with young kids leave with three toys, two complete outfits, a book, and a voucher for a free coat from the GVCS thrift shop. Parents of older children or teenagers receive a sweatshirt and a gift card for additional gift shopping. "It’s so moving, and the clients are so appreciative. Some come back every year and I get to see and hear how everyone is doing—it really is the best day," said Mary Ann. Ann complimented the committee’s busy work each season by calling them a "well-oiled machine."
Celeste McNiesh, an active member of the Mom’s Club of Walkersville, got involved after seeing how the rest of the club’s members supported the GVCS and their community services. For at least ten years, the Mom’s Club requests to ‘adopt’ a few families by receiving the wish lists for them to shop from. This year, Mrs. McNiesh wanted to get involved more than ever and spent every day getting involved. From donation drop-off to sorting, the committee got to work making sure each child had a balance of items that matched their preferences.
McNiesh recounted how it felt to shop for the children, saying, "they’re literally our kids. It’s very personal for us and we double check that each child gets what they would if they were my kid." Committee members also make sure to tape batteries to each gift requiring them and provide each family with wrapping paper and tape. "This could be all they get and any of us could be in that situation, and so we all need to help each other out because you never know when it could be your turn," she added.
In 2020, the Holiday Toy Shoppe allowed 74 families with 211 children to take home a collective 242 outfits, 121 homemade stockings, and 360 toys and books. Many also took home grocery store gift cards and raffle items hosted by the GCVS. In 2021, Glade Valley and surrounding communities collected 200 outfits, 100 stockings, 300 toys, and 200 books that were distributed to 67 families with 193 children, including 93 through 6th and 12th grade.
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