WARREN, Ohio - Instead of receiving, Cub Scout Pack 50 out of Cortland is giving, by donating much needed items to the Warren Mission's toy drive.
"We're giving toys to the other people that don't have the money to buy," said Cub Scout Ryan Kurtz. "It feels very good."
In its biggest toy drive ever, the Warren Mission had over 800 families sign up. Lines looped through the building all day Tuesday as parents lined up to receive toys.
"We've gone through over 1,000 bags," said toy drive organizer Cheryl Parsons. "We signed up for two days which was remarkable."
Something else remarkable, say mission officials, is the outpouring of generosity. The day after 21 News reported a toy shortage at the Mission, bags of donations began coming through the door.
"We had a lot of individuals that dropped off toys," explained Parsons. "They said they saw it on TV and also we had some corporations; Century Link, the Fire Department in Warren."
Some residents found donations in their own home.
"A couple gifts that my son got last year for Christmas and wasn't playing with them, couple gifts that I didn't need so I saw on the news this morning that they needed gifts, I thought I'd just bring them down," said Joanna McCartney of Southington, as she dropped off bags of donations. "I thought I could help somebody else out. They were just sitting at home; I knew other people would love to have them."
"I have five kids in my home. I'm a single parent and with only one income coming in, it helps out quite a great deal!" said Becky Fenton of Leavittsburg.
Many recipients say this year is tougher than ever for cash-strapped families.
"I've had three surgeries, I've had nine heart attacks, can't find work, and this really helps out a lot," added Mack Peyatt of Warren. "People don't realize how much it does for people."
The Mission hopes to give out just as many gifts in the second day of the drive, but they're running out of items. They will continue to accept donations as they try to fill the ever-growing need.
Those little acts of kindness mean a lot to the parents receiving toys.
