Toys for Tots gives out 22K gifts this year
CENTER TWP — A group of active and retired Marines and other volunteers gathered Friday in an effort to ensure that less fortunate children in the area would have a happy holiday.
This year, a Toys for Tots program operated by Gunnery Sgt. Chad Krumpe and his stepmother, Michelle Krumpe, has collected about 22,000 gifts — from bicycles and Teddy bears to Barbie dolls and action figures — that were handed out Wednesday through Friday at the Clearview Mall.
On Friday, parents of children, from infants to age 15, dropped by for the final day of the Toys for Tots program.
Chad Krumpe said that this year's gift drive was different. In previous years, shopping bags would be filled with one large, one medium and one small toy as well as a puzzle, stuffed animal and stocking stuffer. This year, parents were able to personally pick out items.
“It's been an avalanche of toys,” Krumpe said. “We had to buy $8,000 worth just today.”
Sgt. Major Sam Zurzolo said that he started the Butler Toys for Tots program in 1983, but has been involved with the drive since the 1960s. He added that the drive has averaged 40 to 50 volunteers per day and that more than 100 people have been involved during the three days of handing out toys.
“This has been the nicest program for these kids,” Zurzolo said of the drive. “(The volunteers) have done an outstanding job and should be commended for their effort. We've been honored to have them work for us.”
The drive has drawn local members of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as their family members.
About 2,100 children from Butler and Clarion counties registered to receive gifts from Toys for Tots, according to Krumpe.
“My mother-in-law comes here for her grandkids,” said Ashley Seibel of Butler, who was filling a bag of toys — including a Barbie doll, princess doll, My Little Pony toys, an “ABC book” and a Clifford toy — for her 4-year-old daughter. “It's my first year.”
Britney Brown, who lives in Pittsburgh, said she heard about the toy drive from a friend, and that she was shopping for a boy and girl, ages 3 and 11. By 11 a.m., she had picked out a Barbie doll, football and remote-control car.
Susan Beer, a grandmother from Parker, said her family dropped by to pick out toys for her five grandchildren. She specifically was tasked with finding gifts for her two granddaughters, ages 7 and 8.
“A friend told me about it on Facebook,” she said of the drive. “So far, I've got Fingerlings, a nail kit, a chocolate maker, science discovery (toys) and a scrapbook.”
Santa Claus was at the event, although it was primarily attended by parents.
Krumpe said the toy drive expanded this year from one Friday to three days.
“It confined people,” he said of the old format. “This allows us to be more flexible with other people's schedules.”
He noted that some of the larger items being given away included bicycles, remote-control trucks and power trucks.
Tom McKee of Fenelton was among the 32 volunteers handing out gifts on Friday. He said this was his first year taking part in the event.
“I'm with the American Legion — they asked for our help,” he said. “I want to see kids have a good Christmas, no matter who they are or where they're from.”
