‘A blessing’: Local ‘North Pole’ serves toys to area families
Published 2:54 am Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Ximena Garcia, 3, rides her new tricycle as she and her family pick up their Toys for Tots bag of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Marine Corps veteran Don Butler, dressed as Sgt. Claus, greets children as families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Toys for Tots volunteers James Wright (left) and Todd Jones (right) help distribute bags of toys to families at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Toys for Tots volunteers help distribute bags of toys to families at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Annastasia Ellis (left) and her mother Claudean Ellis (right) wear Christmas tree-topper hats as they organize name slips while families file in to pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Donated toys are split up by age group and genders into large boxes as families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Marine Corps veteran Don Butler, dressed as Sgt. Claus, hugs Ja-Ton Vincent, 2, as families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Toys for Tots volunteers help distribute bags of toys to families at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Toys for Tots volunteers Jason and Emmalyn Thomas help distribute bags of toys to families at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Toys for Tots volunteers help distribute bags of toys to families at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Marine Corps veteran Don Butler, dressed as Sgt. Claus, greets children as families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Donated toys are split up by age group and genders into large boxes as families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Toys for Tots volunteers help distribute bags of toys to families at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Families pick up their Toys for Tots bags of toys at the “North Pole” in the Metals and More building off Veterans Memorial on the final distribution day for Warren County residents on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
For the third time this season, the Metal-N-More facility, at 1040 Old Barren River Rd., was turned into a figurative, festive “North Pole.”
On Saturday morning, some 60 volunteers carried out Toys For Tots’ final “North Pole” giveaway of the year. The meticulously organized toy distribution served around 300 families who would otherwise have difficulty acquiring toys for their children, according to Janel Doyle, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots coordinator for southern Kentucky.
Toys for Tots collected toys at 225 sites countywide through Dec. 18. Those wanting toys would call to set up a pick-up date; they’d qualify by being a Warren County resident, being a legal parent or guardian of anyone they’re requesting toys for, and not receiving Christmas toys from any other assistance program, Doyle said.
Volunteers distributed them over three days at the Metal-N-More facility. In a final distribution, Toys for Tots volunteers will drop off toys at houses with the Fire Department Christmas morning.
The nonprofit Toys for Tots, which keeps donations local, served 13,000 Warren County children last year, Doyle said.
“It means that I can give my kids a Christmas …,” Bowling Green resident Rachel Gant said. “I’m very thankful that they were able to help us, because we have four kids, so they helped our two youngest, and that’s a big blessing.”
The nonprofit, driven by volunteers, seemed to execute the distribution efficiently.
“I love helping kids — I love it,” Toys for Tots volunteer and Bowling Green resident Teresa Bell said. “It’s a blessing for me to help.”
Several guided drivers into the limited parking areas. Inside the facility, volunteers worked to get families their toys as smoothly as possible. Outside, Cotton BBQ fed hundreds free of charge.
“It was super easy,” Bowling Green resident Rayvionna Sivils said. “I just called. She gave me my ticket number, time to pick up … I’m here today, and they’ve got me in line super quick ….
I’ve just kind of fallen on hard times right before Christmas, so it kind of helped out a lot being able to have a program to get Christmas toys so that I didn’t have to stress out about not being able to for my kids.”
Don Butler, perhaps better known as Sgt. Claus, would frequently greet children with a hearty “Ho-ho-ho!” and hug. The Marine veteran of the Vietnam War has been with the local branch of Toys for Tots since it launched some 22 years ago.
“To be able to serve the number of children and families every year who wouldn’t have Christmas sometimes without our help is God’s blessing,” he said. “You see the spirit around us. It’s just a nice feeling.”
