The Perry toy drive got a shot in the arm Friday morning when Travis Landgrebe, manager of the Fareway food store in Perry, presented a check for $621.45 to John Andorf, leader of the Perry Toy Drive for New Opportunities.
The money was donated at Fareway Nov. 17-23 by customers who rounded up their sales totals to the nearest dollar and gave the difference to the Perry Toy Drive.
“This is our second annual round up for the toy drive,” Landgrebe said, “and we’re happy to see our generous customers came through for the program, which is great for kids in the Perry community.”
The goal of the program is to deliver a new toy at Christmas and to provide a message of hope to those less fortunate than us.
Toy collections will continue through Dec. 1, with toy distribution completed by Dec. 8, according to Andorf, who has led the Perry toy drive efforts for eight years.
“Perry people show their generosity every year with this program,” Andorf said, “and we know this year will be no exception. This program brings joy to some of our neediest families, who otherwise have few Christmas joys.”
New Opportunities has completed the application process and anticipates a need this year for toys and gifts for about 300 local children.
New, unwrapped toys are needed for local children from infants to 14-year-olds. While toys are needed for younger children, monetary donations are accepted in order to purchase gift items for older children and for Christmas food baskets. Monetary donations should be made out to New Opportunities.
Collection boxes for the Perry Toy Drive can be found at the following commercial locations:
- ShopKo
- Ben’s Five and Dime
- Dollar General
- Medicap
- Perry Perk
- Perry Public Library
- Orscheln’s
- Fareway
- Raccoon Valley Bank
Other participating businesses include the Progressive Foundry, Wiese Industries, VanWall Implement, Percival Scientific, and Farm Credit Services.
Collection boxes will be in place until Dec. 1, with distribution occurring Dec. 8.
“All the donated toys and donated cash is spent locally on Perry children,” Andorf said. “People seem to like giving toys for the little kids, so the 14- to 16-year-olds can be harder to buy for.”
The U.S. Marine Corps participates in the statewide toy drive and also donates many toys and games toward local needs, but more are needed than can be provided through this generous military group, Andorf said.
Andorf encouraged his fellow Perry residents to consider making an act of kindness and helping to put a smile on child’s face Christmas morning. For more information or to make a monetary donation, contact John or Linda Andorf at 515-465-5803.
