Geneva project to help Appalachia children
On Saturday, Oct. 22, several Geneva community groups and schools will join the nonprofit organization A Lasting World Inc. in facilitating the S.A.N.T.A. (Send A New Toy (to) Appalachia) Project.
New toys will be collected Oct. 18-21 at Friendship Station Preschool, Fabyan Elementary School, St. Peter Elementary School, Geneva High School, Geneva Police Department and Geneva city hall. The public is invited to participate in the toy drive by dropping off new toys outside Mayor Kevin Burns’ office from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 22, at Geneva city hall, 22 S. Second St.
The S.A.N.T.A. Project is part of the annual Make A Difference Day event, the nation’s largest day of doing good. Each year, millions of Americans volunteer in their communities on Make A Difference Day, sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine, the HandsOn Network and the Paul Newman Foundation.
Burns has proclaimed Oct. 22 as official Make A Difference Day in the city of Geneva.
The Geneva volunteer project was the idea of Geneva resident Wen Marcec, founder of A Lasting World Inc. Marcec and her organization have been working with underprivileged children in the Appalachian portion of Kentucky for the past 10 years. The children who will receive the new toys from Geneva donators all come from homes where the average annual family income is less than $12,000, well below the national poverty level.
Besides their financial difficulties, many of the children have domestic and emotional issues, and many of them suffer from depression and feelings of hopelessness. Without the help of the S.A.N.T.A. Project, Marcec said these Kentucky children will receive no holiday gifts at all.
Last year, the S.A.N.T.A. Project collected more than 900 toys and served almost 400 families. Marcec hopes that this year’s toy drive will bring in even more gifts.
Anyone interested in donating a new toy to the S.A.N.T.A. Project can drop the item off outside the mayor’s office or drop off toys Oct. 17-21 at the Geneva Police Department during regular business hours.
For more information or to arrange another drop-off, contact Marcec at (630) 917-3912.
Do not donate toys that need batteries or toys that need electricity. Toys should not be gift-wrapped.