By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Brandon Twp.- Santa’s making a list and checking it twice.
The Community Christmas Toy Store is gearing up for Christmas and seeking help from the elves.
Area residents will see jars for cash donations this week, and next week will see boxes ready to receive gifts of new, unwrapped toys, at local businesses, churches and schools.
‘Halloween is done and now the focus will be Christmas,? said Linda Mizejewski, president of CCTS, the non-profit organization that provides toys to children in low-income families in the Brandon School District. ‘If you are out, taking advantage of sales, shopping for your own family, please pick up an extra toy.?
CCTS seeks donations of toys for newborns up to age 12. The organization provided Christmas presents to about 280 kids last year with the goal of providing at least one book, one board game and three or four toys for each child. Donors are always wondering what kinds of toys children would like, so this year, for the first time, CCTS volunteers asked parents for suggestions. Particularly popular this year are Thomas the Train, Disney’s Frozen, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, remote control cars and trucks, Doc McStuffins, Monster High, WWF action figures, Legos, Leap Frog educational toys, Barbies, G.I. Joes, I Spy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, Skylanders, arts and crafts supplies, iPods, puzzles, Transformers, Nerf toys, and health and beauty items including bubble bath, nail polish, blow dryers and flat irons.
CCTS tries to keep gifts in the $20-$30 range.
‘Anything you can give is appreciated,? said Mizejewski, who notes some of the parents seeking assistance just went back to work, had their hours cut, or are single moms. ‘It means a lot, for some families, what they get from the toy store is the only Christmas they will have… It would be nice to be able to give five or six toys for each age group? that would be awesome. Sometimes for the younger kids we can, but usually not for the older, we don’t get as many donations for them.?
CCTS is grateful for the help of special elves, including the Brandon Woodworkers Club, which provides wooden cars, trucks, planes, doll cradles and doll strollers; Mabelena’s Quilting Supplies, whose customers sew child-themed pillowcases and donate with new pillows for kids; and Ann Harvey, who buys dolls throughout the year and makes clothes for them, donating all to CCTS.
Cash donations and new toys are collected Dec. 11, and volunteers set up the toy store on Dec. 11 and 12 at St. Anne Church, 825 S. Ortonville Road. Special shoppers head out on Dec. 12 to purchase toys in whatever area is short. Volunteers are always needed? to find out how you can help, contact Linda at 248-627-2641 or Adele Ferguson at 810-412-4002. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 733, Ortonville, MI 48462. Make checks payable to CCTS.
‘If for one day we can help the kids and their parents forget about the financial situation they are in, or for the Christmas season they can forget the negative things and be happy and not have to focus on paying a bill and just enjoy the season, that is what we aim for,? said Mizejewski. ‘We just want to make it a happy time for them.?
2014 toy collection sites include all Brandon schools, most churches and the following businesses:
Ace Hardware; Art of Life; Baylis Animal Hospital; Brandon Chiropractic Center; Brandon Fire Station #1; Brandon Tire and Auto Center; Brandon Township offices; Bullfrogs Bar and Grill; The Citizen newspaper; Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union; Creations Hair and Nail Salon; Dollar General; Escamilla Amigos; First Impressions Dental; Hamilton’s Propane; Hamilton’s of Ortonville; Hayme Serrato’s Martial Arts; Healthcare Reimbursement Solutions, Inc.; Hungry Howie’s Pizza; Jet’s Pizza; Ken’s Coney Island; Lynn’s Dance Studio; Mabelena’s; MacPhee’s Restaurant; Mammoth Video; McLaren Oakland Ortonville (Dr. Lowenstein); M-15 Urgent Care; O’Malley’s Galley; Oxford Bank; Papa Bella’s Pizza; Pet Supplies ‘Plus?; Real Estate One; Scruffy to Fluffy Pet Salon; Sherry Lynn’s Jewelry Box; Something Different Hair Salon; Stonehouse Family Dental; Subway; TimPaNo Toys; Tractor Supply Company; Verizon Wireless; Village of Ortonville offices; Willow Pointe Flower and Gifts; and Wojo’s Greenhouse.