Community Toy Drive exceeds goal

Alexandria Reiser, held by her mother Rachel, excitedly reaches for a piano toy.

DAR/Michael Shine

Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church celebrated its 17th annual Community Toy Drive on Saturday with over 2,000 people served.

Pastor Ron Webb said as part of the event, families are able to come get food for the holidays as well as presents, such as coats, shoes and new toys for the younger members of the community.

Every year, the program’s goal is to raise between $28,000-$30,000 to go toward these presents for needy members of the community. Webb said donations exceeded that this year.

With this help, those involved in the project were able to buy diapers, shoes in nearly every size, almost 1,000 coats, toys for newborns to pre-teens and a box package for every family that came.

“It’s just a lifesaver for some of these kids,” he said.

Along with the event Saturday morning, Webb said some of the remaining items went to Good Hope Baptist Church in Marston where he expected to serve around another 500 people. Along with that, anything that remains will be available for those who weren’t able to attend either event. Before it’s all gone, Webb said, he expects to help about 3,000 people.

“We’re going to give until it’s all gone,” Webb said.

The event partnered with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for members of Troop E’s Explorer program to come volunteer. Members of the program helped families load their cars.

“We could not have done it without the patrol,” Webb said.

Some of the largest donors, he said, include Baldwin Ford, the Bank of Missouri, First Midwest Bank, Robertson Construction and Curtis Worley — who has helped with the event since it started. Webb said he likes to make sure donors are at the actual event so they can see what their aid is going toward.

“It’s all about the kids,” he said.