About 10 years ago, Faith Formation catechist Connie Warchuck started the annual toy drive at the St. Daniel Catholic Community. The drive began as a hands-on Christian service project for the Faith Formation classes to assist the ‘toy lady,? Barb Swartz, in her annual collection of used toys for local organizations for Christmas distribution.
Warchuck died of cancer in 1990, and the parish continued the project in her memory. Each year, the collection has increased and a variety of organizations have benefited.
As donations come in, they are sorted, cleaned and mended, and many stuffed toys are machine-washed. Those requiring batteries have new ones placed. In 1995, the church designated a Saturday morning about the third week of November as a work day. Volunteers sorted and wrapped toys according to children’s age and sex.
On Nov. 20, the group continued the toy drive with many volunteers from St. Daniel’s Faith Formation.