Community toy drive organized

MARION - What started as an idea in OhioHealth Marion General Hospital’s Physical and Occupational Therapy department quickly spread into a communitywide effort to organize a toy drive for the Salvation Army from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the south entrance of the OhioHealth Marion Medical Campus.

After months of planning and collaboration, OhioHealth associates gathered Marion area safety professionals to partner for a day of fun and giving — and they are inviting others in the community to be a part of it, a news release states.

The Physical and Occupational Therapy department has a committee called the Quality of Worklife Team. When committee member Luranie Hamilton was asked why they wanted to do the toy drive and invite the community to participate, she used a play on words from OhioHealth’s Believe in We tagline: “We at OhioHealth embrace the spirit of this season. We feel blessed to be a part of Marion. We hope to spread the light of joy and hopefulness throughout our community. We wanted to pull the community together in a positive way to help others. What better way to keep the morale high in our OhioHealth family and the Marion community?”

Community members are invited to bring new, unwrapped toys for the Salvation Army. Contributors will be greeted by volunteers from OhioHealth, the Marion Fire Department, the Marion Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

There will be opportunities for photos with mascots, emergency vehicles and service members in uniform. Participants won’t need to leave their cars — they can drive through, drop off toys and go. Attendees also can bring the kids, engage them in the giving spirit, and allow them to meet those who protect us year-round.

Organizers say the need is great. More than 600 children (up to age 14) have been identified by the Salvation Army to receive the toys.

“This can be a stressful time for those in need who want to create a great holiday experience for their children. Your donations not only make you feel good, they do good for many right here in our own community,” said Maj. Paul Knickerbocker, Corps commanding officer for Marion.

If you can’t make it to the toy drive Saturday, you may drop your new, unwrapped toys off at these locations through Dec. 18:

•OhioHealth Home Care, 1713 Marion Mount Gilead Road;

•OhioHealth Radiation Oncology Building, 1150 Crescent Heights Road;

•OhioHealth Marion Medical Campus (north and south entrances), 1050 Delaware Ave.;

•OhioHealth Marion General Hospital (main entrance), 1000 McKinley Park Drive;

•OhioHealth Barks Road Office and Conference Center, 278 Barks Road West;

•Dr. John Engle’s office, 241 Executive Drive;

•OhioHealth Marion Area Physicians, Dr. Vivek Awasty’s office, 980 S. Prospect St. Suite No. 2.

•Marion Fire Department main station, 186 S. Prospect St.; second station, 1069 Bellefontaine Ave.; and third station, Jefferson Street;

•Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Marion post; 1284 Ohio 423 North;

•Marion Police Department, 233 W. Center St. After hours, donors can go to the back door, pick up the phone and press 0; tell the operator you have a toy and they will let them in.

Not sure what to bring? The Salvation Army has provided a list of the most popular toys and gifts, which include Disney’s “Frozen,” Paw Patrol, superheroes, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Doc McStuffins,” “Sofia the First,” sports items, jewelry making kids, craft kits, art (drawing) kits, science kits, model cars, remote control cars, dress-up/make-believe, play food (play kitchen accessories), doctors’ kits, hair supplies, nail art supplies (nail polish).

Items that are not needed are Barbies and Matchbox cars.