News
“Why we do Toy Drives”
November 28, 2011 | jonsevo
“Why we do Toy Drives”
For some a toy drive is a great little bit of publicity, so they hold one. Or they needed something to do for the holidays in the office, so they hold one. Neither are bad reasons really, end result is still the same, but there is a bit more to why our YP groups do toy drives.
Growing up, things weren’t too bad by the time I hit college in our family. Our family business was/is oil distribution, and in our hometown alone we had 3 gas stations. When I finished college I took over the marketing, and one day our radio sales rep came in with an idea…to do a Wish Tree.
The Wish Tree was an idea that we’d collect gift ideas to put on a tree for kids who didn’t have a bright Christmas in their future. Tags on the tree had the age, sex, and gift request that went like this “5 Year old boy, baseball glove”. I was in our stores almost all day, my office was literally a closet back at the main office, and I really got to see the magic of all of this. The most touching would be seeing the kids ask parents “What is this tree for?” and parents would say “It’s a chance to get a child like you a present who may otherwise not get one for Christmas”.
Always, without hesitation, a child would ask if he/she could pick one out.
Each year I saw this grow. By the time I left our family business I would be taking a load of toys from each store almost daily to the radio station for distribution so we’d have room for more. By the last year we actually were scrambling to find more requests for gifts to hang on the tree to keep up with the demand. And without fail, the day before the last day to do so…someone would buy up whatever was left on the tree. To see that from people was just amazing. Probably one of my favorite things I ever did then.
When I started CSYP in Colorado Springs we did nothing for the first year, but the second year a well connected woman by the name of Jennifer Wyrick (now Leaver, and now owns the Beaumont in Ouray, CO) suggested we do a toy drive…I said yes immediately and she introduced me to a man named Bob Trethway at Christmas Unlimited…founded in 1923 it’s one of the oldest non-profits in the Rockies. We’re going on 7 years with him in COS now and he also introduced us to Denver Santa Claus Shop which is who we support in the Denver Young Professionals toy drive…now going on year 3.
It’s been fun to see what people will buy, and just as much fun as to hear them talk about it. The loud and outgoing guy who bought the thing that makes the most noise, the guys who chipped in to buy a box (like 50 in the box) of teddy bears because they thought every kids deserves one, or those who buy their favorite childhood toy or game so that some other child may enjoy what they once did.
Toy drives are tough. They are a pain in some ways. You are also at the mercy of the holiday schedule so some years you have amazing ones, others small due to bigger events or an unexpected freezing cold day. But we do them anyway because I believe no matter what we bring in, it’s more than these agencies had before. It’s a few more kids that can know the spirit of Christmas and not be left out of what I believe is an important childhood lesson….the act of giving.
Our toy drive in Denver this year is at Spill December 14th form 6pm-8pm…..or so.Bring one unwrapped toy. All are welcome to attend as all our DYP events are. They aren’t just “networking” events….they are community events to help bring YP’s together. Come to help out, come to hear what others bought and why, and come to be together with other YP’s.
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you on the 8th.
Sincerely,
Jon Severson
Founder, Denver Young Professionals
Founder, Colorado Young Professionals
