thedrifter
12-07-08, 08:10 AM
Goodfellows: Students enlist with Marines to unload toys
Saturday, December 06, 2008
By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
My arms are hurting so bad right now!" shrieked Nicole Ferraco, a Penn Hills High School sophomore, as she and fellow students carried boxes into a warehouse in Findlay yesterday morning.
You wouldn't have known that from the smile on her face.
About 40 Penn Hills students donated three hours to a military-style effort to unload, sort and wrap a truckload of toys that will wind up in the hands of needy children on Christmas.
Working side by side with them were a dozen or so camouflage-clad Marines. Their mission in this season is not only to defend their country but enrich it, by helping to ensure that kids in struggling families enjoy the wonders of Christmas.
It is a mission that Post-Gazette readers can join as well.
In the coming weeks, the local Marine Corps Toys for Tots program will distribute more than 100,000 toys to more than 30,000 deserving children across Western Pennsylvania, assisted by the Post-Gazette's Goodfellows Toy Fund. It is an effort that involves countless volunteers -- Marines, social services providers, students, church groups, businesses and citizens.
A small part of that effort played out yesterday in Findlay, in warehouse space donated by Massaro Properties, as the Marines and students formed an assembly line to move dolls, board games, footballs, skateboards, stuffed animals, radios and other toys. The toys are sorted by age and gender, then organized for pickup by more than 100 agencies that deliver them to needy families.
Looking for a community service project, the Penn Hills group contacted Pittsburgh Cares, a nonprofit agency that promotes volunteerism and is assisting the Marines in this year's drive. Josh Willy, coordinator of the high school's gifted program, said recruiting students to help was no problem.
"Anytime you offer the chance to be out of the building, there's going to be a lot of interest," he said. "But the other part of it is that we have some genuinely good kids who are not just looking for a day off. They were just so enthusiastic to have this opportunity."
Sophomore Alyssa Betzler and junior Kayla Tomasino helped to organize the trip and joined the assembly line.
"It's amazing ... look at all the toys," said Alyssa, an aspiring forensic pathologist. "It makes me feel like I'm doing something good, especially around the holidays."
"Seeing all the toys come in and the Marines doing all of this work makes you happy to be here," said Kayla, who hopes to become a French teacher.
As the students moved the toys in, Ralphina Coleman, a minister at Second Baptist Church in Homestead, arrived with a van to pick up a shipment for about 400 children whose families are served by her church. And so, abruptly, the Marines and students reversed the assembly line, moving the church's order out to the van.
"Anybody that has a need, we meet it," Ms. Coleman said of the church's outreach ministry. The year-round effort delivers clothing, blankets, sundries and other necessities, but in December, it's mostly about toys.
"What excites us is when the parents come back to say 'I wouldn't have had anything for the children if you hadn't helped us,'" she said.
The Marines spearheading this effort are from Military Police Company Bravo, headquartered in North Versailles. Most the unit's 200 or so members will spend at least part of their holiday season on Toys for Tots, at the warehouse and at community events, including Steelers and Penguins games, where toys are donated.
"No, I never imagined doing anything like this," smiled Sgt. Jeff Nasteff, 23, of Canton, Ohio, who is serving as warehouse manager. "It's a lot of work but it's going for a really good cause. I think everybody enjoys it."
"It's a complete 180 from what we normally do. This is a good way to give back to the community," said Lance Cpl. Kevin Conner, 22, of Lawrenceville.
Bravo Company, its stateside ranks thinned by overseas deployments, is getting a boost this year from Pittsburgh Cares, which is overseeing the warehouse operation and helping with recruitment of volunteers. In the assembly line yesterday were Thom Dawkins and Justin Portis, part of the agency's Youth Engaged in Service program.
"This is typical of a shipment day," Mr. Dawkins said as dollies loaded with skateboards whisked by, and Marines and students chattered and barked instructions to one another. "It looks like chaos, but it's pretty controlled."
When it was over, there was pizza for the volunteers, and a greater reward -- the knowledge that somewhere, because of their efforts, a child will be smiling on Christmas.
You can help this worthy campaign by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Goodfellows Toy Fund, by using the coupon on this page or online at www.post-gazette.com/goodfellows. Every donation is acknowledged in the newspaper.
Today: .....$6,526
Grand total:.....$6,526
Jon Schmitz can be reached at jschmitz@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1868.
First published on December 6, 2008 at 12:00 am
Ellie
Saturday, December 06, 2008
By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
My arms are hurting so bad right now!" shrieked Nicole Ferraco, a Penn Hills High School sophomore, as she and fellow students carried boxes into a warehouse in Findlay yesterday morning.
You wouldn't have known that from the smile on her face.
About 40 Penn Hills students donated three hours to a military-style effort to unload, sort and wrap a truckload of toys that will wind up in the hands of needy children on Christmas.
Working side by side with them were a dozen or so camouflage-clad Marines. Their mission in this season is not only to defend their country but enrich it, by helping to ensure that kids in struggling families enjoy the wonders of Christmas.
It is a mission that Post-Gazette readers can join as well.
In the coming weeks, the local Marine Corps Toys for Tots program will distribute more than 100,000 toys to more than 30,000 deserving children across Western Pennsylvania, assisted by the Post-Gazette's Goodfellows Toy Fund. It is an effort that involves countless volunteers -- Marines, social services providers, students, church groups, businesses and citizens.
A small part of that effort played out yesterday in Findlay, in warehouse space donated by Massaro Properties, as the Marines and students formed an assembly line to move dolls, board games, footballs, skateboards, stuffed animals, radios and other toys. The toys are sorted by age and gender, then organized for pickup by more than 100 agencies that deliver them to needy families.
Looking for a community service project, the Penn Hills group contacted Pittsburgh Cares, a nonprofit agency that promotes volunteerism and is assisting the Marines in this year's drive. Josh Willy, coordinator of the high school's gifted program, said recruiting students to help was no problem.
"Anytime you offer the chance to be out of the building, there's going to be a lot of interest," he said. "But the other part of it is that we have some genuinely good kids who are not just looking for a day off. They were just so enthusiastic to have this opportunity."
Sophomore Alyssa Betzler and junior Kayla Tomasino helped to organize the trip and joined the assembly line.
"It's amazing ... look at all the toys," said Alyssa, an aspiring forensic pathologist. "It makes me feel like I'm doing something good, especially around the holidays."
"Seeing all the toys come in and the Marines doing all of this work makes you happy to be here," said Kayla, who hopes to become a French teacher.
As the students moved the toys in, Ralphina Coleman, a minister at Second Baptist Church in Homestead, arrived with a van to pick up a shipment for about 400 children whose families are served by her church. And so, abruptly, the Marines and students reversed the assembly line, moving the church's order out to the van.
"Anybody that has a need, we meet it," Ms. Coleman said of the church's outreach ministry. The year-round effort delivers clothing, blankets, sundries and other necessities, but in December, it's mostly about toys.
"What excites us is when the parents come back to say 'I wouldn't have had anything for the children if you hadn't helped us,'" she said.
The Marines spearheading this effort are from Military Police Company Bravo, headquartered in North Versailles. Most the unit's 200 or so members will spend at least part of their holiday season on Toys for Tots, at the warehouse and at community events, including Steelers and Penguins games, where toys are donated.
"No, I never imagined doing anything like this," smiled Sgt. Jeff Nasteff, 23, of Canton, Ohio, who is serving as warehouse manager. "It's a lot of work but it's going for a really good cause. I think everybody enjoys it."
"It's a complete 180 from what we normally do. This is a good way to give back to the community," said Lance Cpl. Kevin Conner, 22, of Lawrenceville.
Bravo Company, its stateside ranks thinned by overseas deployments, is getting a boost this year from Pittsburgh Cares, which is overseeing the warehouse operation and helping with recruitment of volunteers. In the assembly line yesterday were Thom Dawkins and Justin Portis, part of the agency's Youth Engaged in Service program.
"This is typical of a shipment day," Mr. Dawkins said as dollies loaded with skateboards whisked by, and Marines and students chattered and barked instructions to one another. "It looks like chaos, but it's pretty controlled."
When it was over, there was pizza for the volunteers, and a greater reward -- the knowledge that somewhere, because of their efforts, a child will be smiling on Christmas.
You can help this worthy campaign by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Goodfellows Toy Fund, by using the coupon on this page or online at www.post-gazette.com/goodfellows. Every donation is acknowledged in the newspaper.
Today: .....$6,526
Grand total:.....$6,526
Jon Schmitz can be reached at jschmitz@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1868.
First published on December 6, 2008 at 12:00 am
Ellie