Niagara Falls-area parents unable to purchase presents for their children this holiday season were given the opportunity Wednesday to select toys, free of charge, to take home and place under the Christmas tree.
More than three-dozen volunteers from the local nonprofit agencies were on hand at the Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club on 17th Street to hand out presents to grateful recipients. Banking and social service assistance also was afforded.
More than a half-dozen tables' worth of toys were collected via the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program. In total, it was expected 140 families (319 children) would benefit.
"Children get to wake up to a Christmas that normally wouldn't be able to," United Way Administrative Coordinator Annette Tamul said. "It's thanks to all the volunteers and everyone in the community that donates these gifts, to be able to make that possible for the children."
The United Way, the Niagara Community Action Program and the Boys & Girls Club coordinated the toy drive. Additional support was provided by General Motors, the Niagara Falls Airbase, KeyBank, Wegmans (Niagara Falls), DiMino Tops Lewiston and Heart, Love & Soul.
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