FYI and Truck N4 Tykes’ first Christmas In July Toy Drive was a big success thanks to about 30 volunteers and countless donors!
All the toys and money donated Saturday, July 18, served as a jumpstart for FYI’s annual Christmastime toy collection. The toys are used at a giveaway to needy families in western Clark County, which is planned for Dec. 12 during FYI’s annual “Grinch’s Holiday Who-be What-ee” event.
“We had a lot of people who didn’t go on the run but saw the newspaper article (earlier in the week in the Springfield News-Sun) and just came and gave gifts or donated money at Rural King,” said Julie Driskill of FYI, who helped coordinate the event. “These are folks who love trucks and love kids. They have motorcycles, too, but wanted to do something different for those in need.
“Since we started partnering with Truck N4 Tykes, FYI has benefitted so much from the giving hearts of these caring people,” she added.
Drivers and donors descended upon Rural King in Springfield late Saturday morning. A raffle was also held as part of the event, with gifts donated by businesses like Rural King, Lee’s and Young’s Jersey Dairy. Then the drivers formed a caravan and drove through western Clark County and New Carlisle to its destination at Tecumseh High School. Toys were taken from there to an FYI storage area.
“We gathered enough toys that it would fill our conference room,” Driskill said. “The caravan also got us a lot of exposure as they went through the New Carlisle Farmer’s Market on their way to the high school.”
Along with the toys, $398 was donated to the cause during the event. Stephanie Bailey, who along with husband Cody, started Truck N4 Tykes last fall, was touched by the response to the first-time event.
“It brought more cash than we thought,” she said. “Overall, it was a good start for this Christmas.”
The fall toy drive is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. at Rural King. Truck N4 Tykes did its first toy drive with FYI last fall and collected more than 300 toys for local children.
“We’re planning to open it up in the fall to cars and trucks because the need is so great,” said Bailey, anticipating that many more families than usual won’t have the money to give their kids a good Christmas due to the effects of the pandemic.
“Everyone was very friendly and excited about collecting for the kids,” said FYI’s newest board member, David Johnston, who was on hand to help. “One lady brought so much it took three people to unload the car.”
To check out a TV report from Channels 22 and 45 on Saturday’s toy drive, click the link below:
If you weren’t able to give toys for needy families on Saturday but would still like to help, just call us at 937-845-0403 or email nikki@fyiohio.org.
