Batavia toy drive needs more help

Organizers of an annual Batavia toy collection aren't too proud to do what needs to be done to put new toys in the hands of needy children.

That meant Roy Bailey Jr. donning a Santa Claus cap and pleading, on live television Monday night during the Batavia City Council meeting, for more donations.

"This year we are in trouble. We are in deep trouble," said Baily, who co-chairs the Batavia Action Committee on Community, Environmental and Social Services (ACCESS) committee.

Bailey bases that analysis on two things. One is the number of trips he and a co-leader Rudy Dubis have made in the last two weeks to shuttle toys from collection points at the Batavia fire stations: one trip to each.

And secondly, the effort is starting in the hole, due to damage to toys collected earlier in the year.

A roof leaked over a room where toys were stored, at the city-owned former First Baptist Church. Mold grew on the wet toys, Bailey said, and they had to be thrown away.

"We have been canvassing the area to see how we can replace those toys that were lost," Bailey said.

The committee has sent letters to 236 families, notifying them they are invited to select toys for their children Dec. 14. The committee vets applicants, to make sure it is not being taken advantage of. Residents of Batavia and Batavia Township are eligible.

"Come on, Batavia, let's get on board here. Let's help these families out. ... I'm talking about children here in Batavia that you and I have to look at that are not going to have a Christmas," Bailey said.

Especially needed are items for teenagers. There are 123 teens on the list, he said. "You can't give a Barbie doll to a 15-year-old football player," Bailey said. The committee uses donations of money and gift cards to shop for items suited to teens.

New, unwrapped toys, and used ones in very good condition, can be dropped off at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave.; Funway Family Fun Center, 1335 S. River St.; and the fire stations at, fire stations at 800 E. Wilson St. and 1400 Main St.

Cash, gift cards and checks, made payable to Batavia ACCESS and marked for the toy drive, should be sent to the Batavia Police Department, 100 N. Island Ave.

"I'm confident Batavia will rise to the occasion," Mayor Jeff Schielke said.

Several Batavia schools are collecting toys for the drive, including Louise White and Alice Gustafson elementary schools and Rotolo Middle School.

Batavia ACCESS is a private, nonprofit committee. Besides the toy drive, it also has a subcommittee that runs the Fourth of July fireworks show.