Christmas is Made Brighter at the Farmington Hills Corps Toy Shop
*Toy Shop attendee, Becky and volunteer, Lorrén
The Farmington Hills Corps Toy Shop is in full swing. With festively dressed volunteers and large variety of toys and clothes, there’s something for children of all ages.
One Toy Shop attendee, Angelica, expressed her gratitude for the assistance:
“I have three kids, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom this year. So, things are a little tighter as far as what I can get them for Christmas. It means a lot because my kids can be happy and have something to open for Christmas.”
Another attendee, Becky, was shopping for her three teenagers – two boys and a girl. The past year has been particularly rough for her family due to the unexpected passing of her husband last December.
While it isn’t always easy raising three teenagers, the toy shop is bringing joy and putting “a little extra” under the Christmas tree for Becky and her family.
*Toy Shop attendee, Becky
The volunteers have their own story: for the past 8 years the Pausch family has been volunteering at the Farmington Hills Corps Toy Drive. Every year they dress festively and try to outdo the year before.
It all started when daughter Lorrén was in High School and needed service hours.
“At first, I did it because I needed to get my hours in for High School, but then I ended up liking it, so it’s something I continue to do even though I’m in college now.”
The family is affectionately called the “elves” by the Farmington Hills Corps staff, and their excitement while helping Toy Shop attendees is infectious.
*The “elf” family left to right: Darlien (mother), Eliot (Lorrén’s boyfriend), Lorrén (daughter), Jeffery (father)
There were even extra goodies from Forgotten Harvest for attendees to take on their way out, an unexpected blessing. According to Corps employee Julie,
“We normally get forgotten harvest every Tuesday to do our food distribution, but it wasn’t supposed to come today and it just kind of came. So, it was an unexpected delivery. So, anything we have today they can have on their way out.”
*Food from Forgotten Harvest
Overall, the Toy Shop has been a great success. Thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers like the “elves”, families who attend can have a more joyful Christmas.
If you would like to support great programs like the Toy Shop, you can donate to The Salvation Army now. And thanks to The Consortium of Hope, all donations from now till New Year’s Eve will be doubled.