Volunteers extend reach, witness of growing Christmas toy drive

Organization, parish and food bank collaborate in Rogers for sixth year of good-will event

Published: December 22, 2012

By Alesia Schaefer
Rogers Correspondent

Alesia Schaefer

Lourdes Perez of Rogers (left), a mother of three children, peruses one of many tables of toys at the sixth annual Society of St. Vincent de Paul Toy Drive.

Alesia Schaefer

Lourdes Perez of Rogers (left), a mother of three children, peruses one of many tables of toys at the sixth annual Society of St. Vincent de Paul Toy Drive.

ROGERS -- The spirit of Christmas was alive Dec. 15 at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's annual toy drive in Rogers.

About 685 families were the recipients of this good-will event that redistributed toys to 2,082 children of families in need. Held on the campus of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers for its sixth year, the toy drive has continued to serve families across northwest Arkansas.

Organizers of the event said the toy drive has grown since its humble beginnings, but what matters in the end is the number of families that are served.

"Our motto," said parishioner Will Green, the chief organizer of the event, "is to provide toys to less fortunate families, regardless of race, color or creed, and to make their Christmas experience more enjoyable."

Families registered for the event were designated a one-hour shopping time, beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at noon. Each family, given a limit of two toys for each child, was paired with a volunteer to assist them in shopping for and wrapping the gifts for each child. At noon, families not registered for the event were allowed into the gym to shop.

The toy drive this year was made possible with toys provided through the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and its sources, according to Green. But the event was really born six years ago, when a major retailer in the area wanted to redistribute a number of toys.

"Tony Howard of the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry helped redistribute the toys through families serviced through the food pantry that year," Green explained, "but it became a vision of his to grow this experience and to help as many families with children as possible."

The success of the event was a result of volunteers who gave their time.

"Close to 400 volunteers make the toy drive possible," says Judene Kuszak, director of religious education.

"Teens and adults arrived as early as 6 a.m. to prepare for the day," Kuszak said, "That's dedication."

The toy drive takes two full days of preparation to organize. Pallets of toys are fork lifted and carried from semi-trailers in the parking lot of St. Vincent de Paul School to the gym.

Parishioners donated wrapping paper and books for the drive.

An outreach ministry of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Mother Teresa Conference, the toy drive has proved to be a tangible and effective ministry reaching out to the community at large.

"I've been involved with the society for 10 years," said Dr. Lisa Low, a member of the Arkansas District Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, "and this has become a service project for the entire parish. This event is a good witness to the service that is possible when this many people are willing to help and make an event successful."