SHARE-A-TOY PROGRAM
"We hope that there will not be any child to wake up on Christmas morning with out toys under the Christmas tree. It may not be the number one reason for Christmas, but every child loves to receive gifts at Christmas." ~~Vince & Judy Else
and this wasn't all ....Pictured here are some of the toys for parents had to choose from the first day of the Else toy distribution during Christmas 2005.
Though not a ministry of the Villisca Advent Christian Church, the sponsors of the Share-A-Toy program, Vince and Judy Else, are members of the Villisca church and the congregation have been supportive. So, here we report on the program:
In 2005 the Else's report: We had 140 parents from 33 different towns receive gifts for 451 children. There were 33 grandparents from 12 different towns receiving gifts for 163 children. They came from 33 towns & 4 different states, with 614 children receiving over 5,300 toys.
The Else's write of the 2005 season: "There is no way to list the many that help make this program a success, but WE want thank each and every one who donated toys, money, those who had collection places, those who help prepare the toys, Nodaway town for the give away location, those who help with putting the toys in place Saturday morning, and specially those who spread the word."
Every Christmas children of every family look forward to receiving toys under the Christmas tree. That is what Share A Toy is all about - sharing a used toy that is not played with any more with a child that would not otherwise receive toys under their Christmas tree.
Share A Toy program collects used toys of all kind, and makes an effort to have the toys clean and in working order. (Often a toy from one family can be put with a toy from another family to make a complete set.) Share-A-Toy is a program sponsored by Vince and Judy Else of Nodaway. They collect toys all year long and have been doing the Share A Toy program for 30 some years. Then for several days before Christmas, they open the doors of the Nodaway Community Center so parents can come and pick out toys for their children. In recent years the Else's have added times when grandparents can come pick up toys to give to their grandchildren.
"We hope that there will not be any child to wake up on Christmas morning with out toys under the Christmas tree. It may not be the number one reason for Christmas, but every child loves to receive gifts at Christmas." ~~Vince & Judy Else
This program would not work if the people of the area did not donate used toys. The Else's do not ask for new toys or money, but will accept either. The main request is for USED TOYS. We know that in the last couple years a Red Oak women's group dressed dolls for the program. There are families who will take games that have been contributed and spend hours matching pieces from games so that complete games with pieces in good shape can be distributed. If you would like to share toys which are not played with any more, you may take them to 400 4th Ave. in Nodaway or the Villisca Good Samaritan Center. If you would like to help in restoring the toys to like-new condition, contact Vince or Judy at 712-785-3311. They collect them all year long.
The Else's do this because they know that there are times when money is short and it is needed for clothes and food, leaving no money for extras like Christmas gifts. Their Share-A-Toy program is a program which a family can use, to make sure that each child will receive toys under the Christmas tree. All they ask of the parents that need toys for their children, is for them to come and pick out the toys that best suits their children. They do not ask why you need toys. They just want the children to have toys for Christmas. They've expressed that their only worry is that there will be some parents that needs toys, who will not hear about the Share A Toy program.. THE TOYS ARE FREE!!!!
Here are some photos from the 2006 giveaway. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge image.
