P2P seeks help for its ’24 Christmas Toy Project

A busy 2023 is wrapping up at People to People Ministries, the nonprofit organization started 45 years ago to help Wayne County residents who found themselves in an emergency situation — a sudden illness or accident, a job layoff, or any unexpected occurrence that resulted in a crisis.

That same spirit lives on today at People to People, 454 E. Bowman St., Wooster. Besides helping with food, clothing and financials, there are three special projects available during the course of the year: Back to School, which provides children with clothing and supplies; Thanksgiving with a full meal and meat voucher; and the Christmas Toy Project, centered on children’s holiday dreams.

With gift distribution just completed for this year, the toy committee hoped to make more people aware of the Christmas Toy Project, which revolves around registered parents shopping for packages of their choosing: large, medium, small, books, stuffed animals and family games, puzzles, and DVDs. This year a total of 438 children will receive surprises under their Christmas trees.

Each year the same group of volunteers, aided by the donations of the community, spends from January until the first week of December putting together packages of toys — most of which contain a warm blanket, a stuffed animal, a toy or two and a book based on the theme of the gift. No matter the exact present, all children want to wake up to such surprises on Christmas morning.

The endeavor takes a lot of planning, time and finances. Because of the pandemic and the economic havoc it created, donations have taken a downturn, especially for the older children. While the need for toys for younger children is still there, People to People is seeing fewer gifts for the older children age 6-18.

When cleaning out toys that are in good condition and have all the parts, a donation to P2P’s toy cleaners might be a way to declutter and help another child. When shopping and you happen upon a good sale — pajamas, lounge pants, desk lamps, alarm clocks, et cetera — a tax-deductible purchase could help. People to People works all year on the project, so anytime is the right time to make a donation.

All donations go directly into the project to ensure all area children have a joyous Christmas. For more information call 330-262-1662.