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No Toy left behind

Holiday campaigns seeking help

US Marine Cpl. Morgan Sproul (left) and Lance Cpl. Paulino Cuevas of the 1st and 2nd Platoon Truck Company, Ebensburg, pack a gift for a child at the Toys for Tots station at the Logan Valley Mall on Monday afternoon. / Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

With Christmas quickly approaching, local holiday aid organizations are nearing the end of their campaigns, and while many are reporting success, there are still opportunities for local residents to give.

Salvation Army Altoona Capt. Ashley Fulmer said she is grateful to the community for its support of this year’s Angel Tree program, an annual effort that provides toys for infants through 12-year-olds.

“We have been doubly blessed this year with the generosity of our community,” Fulmer said.

The needs were met for the Angel Tree program, but Fulmer said the organization’s specific need is now contributions to the Red Kettle Campaign.

As of Tuesday, Salvation Army Altoona collected roughly $47,000 of its $110,000 goal. With less than two weeks remaining in the campaign, Fulmer asked for the community’s help to reach the goal.

“The Red Kettle campaign has some time yet to accomplish the goal, and the funds stay local to help our community with a variety of programming,” Fulmer said. “Should the funds not be raised, we will have to examine our budget for cutbacks.”

The Salvation Army will hold a large red kettle collection event throughout the Altoona area on Saturday. “Super Saturday” includes religious groups at Walmart, Sam’s Club, Boscov’s, Hobby Lobby and the Logan Valley Mall, according to Stephanie Rex, marketing and public relations director of the Salvation Army Western Pa. Division.

The Altoona Fire Department is scheduled to aid in the efforts by “canning” for donations at each location. Rex said last year’s “Super Saturday” raised nearly $17,000 and the organization is hoping to reach $20,000 this year.

Kettles and bell ringers are out in the community 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Donors can always find red kettles during those times at Walmart and Sam’s Club, or donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the Salvation Army office, 1813 Sixth Ave., Altoona.

Toys for Tots reports success

Children across the area are benefitting from the generosity of the community through the Ebensburg Marines Reserve Center’s Toys for Tots campaign. With toy distribution underway at the Logan Valley Mall, Staff Sgt. Matthew Pizarro, Toys for Tots assistant coordinator, said the campaign was a success for the 2021 collection season.

“The collection for Toys for Tots went well for everybody given the circumstances that everybody’s in for COVID-19. We have enough to cover all the applicants who are currently signed up,” Pizarro said.

The Marines will be at the Logan Valley Mall near Entrance C and Macy’s from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today (Wednesday), Friday and Saturday to distribute the toys only for those who previously signed up.

Sheetz for the Kidz continues tradition

Sheetz is in the middle of its December fundraising for Sheetz for the Kidz, an annual employee-led holiday gift program for children who live near Sheetz stores. The nearly 30-year tradition continued through the pandemic, with this year’s gift distribution happening this weekend, according to Brittany Funcheon, Sheetz for the Kidz executive director.

Funcheon said employees shopped and delivered toys, clothing and other basic needs to more than 10,000 kids across six states this month, with 200 drive-thru distributions.

Customers can continue to help the kids by donating at Sheetz registers, purchasing a bottle of marked Sheetz for the Kidz water or online through the Sheetz app. Sheetz reward cardholders can donate the MySheetz Rewardz points to the cause. Final December fundraising totals will be announced in January, Funcheon said.

Santa for seniors, too

Big “kids” also enjoy the spirit of Christmas, leading to Home Instead’s “Be a Santa to a Senior” program.

The program, in its 18th year at the Blair and Cambria county office in Duncansville, aims to remember and support older adults who may be overlooked, isolated or alone during the holiday season, according to a news release.

Velissa Peterson, human relations manager at the local Home Instead office, said the program is a great community project and a way to give back by bringing smiles to the faces of older residents.

Peterson said the program has 172 seniors in Blair and Cambria counties including those at nursing homes and long-term living facilities.

Some of the seniors may not have family members and wouldn’t receive gifts during the holidays without the program, she said.

“We certainly hope this brings a little bit of a smile, gives them something to unwrap and get a little bit excited about the holiday season,” Peterson said. “It can be a sad time for a lot of seniors.”

Peterson said deliveries have begun and will run through next week, but there are still tags on trees at local stores and online for senior recipients.

Lists for local seniors are available online at https://www.beasantatoasenior.com/loc/336#virtual There are wish lists of items for seniors including blankets, body washes, puzzles and snacks. Those interested in donating can make the purchase on Amazon and the gifts will be shipped directly to Home Instead for distribution, Peterson said. Gift givers can also pick up a tag, purchase items and bring the tag and the items back to the Home Instead office.

Tags are available at Home Instead, 1923 Plank Road, Duncansville; Thompsons Pharmacy, 600 E. Chestnut Ave., Altoona; and The Dream restaurant, 1500 Allegheny St., Hollidaysburg.

“It’s a great way to give back,” Peterson said, noting that this is the season of giving. “And I like to think of these guys as some of our big kids who may get forgotten. It’s just a great time to think of them, too.”

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