The Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce received thousands of toys and about $4,500 in monetary donations at its 29th annual toy drive to benefit children in the Jefferson County area.
“The number of toys we received was amazing. It is truly impossible to count them all. There are easily thousands,” toy drive organizer Sharon Reineri said.
The toy drive began on Nov. 1 with barrels stationed at local businesses along Hwy. 30. About 20 barrels were placed this year and emptied multiple times leading up to the day of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce Toy Drive Celebration, held Dec. 12 at the Pine Hollow Farms Annex in House Springs.
The Cedar Hill and High Ridge fire protection districts also collected toys and monetary donations at Walmart and Dollar General stores for the drive.
“The fire districts are an intricate part of the toy collection process. We really appreciate all they do every year. The monetary donations are used to purchase additional toys. Me and other volunteers, whom I call my elves, do a lot of shopping,” Reineri said.
At the Toy Drive Celebration, all the toy donations were divided and given to the two fire districts to give to the charities of their choice, which will distribute the toys to local children in need, she said.
High Ridge Fire donated the toys to Ladies of Charity while Cedar Hill Fire worked with the Peace Pantry in Cedar Hill and adopted approximately 63 families for the season who will receive the toys.
Cedar Hill Fire District Chief Mick Fischer said the toy drive helps make a difference for families during the holidays.
“People are happy to give, and people are happy to receive,” Fischer said. “Being in the middle of that, well, that is what keeps us going each year. It is all very touching.”
The volunteers also enjoy the celebration, which included food and drinks, games, a guest appearance from Santa Claus (Dave Marion) and, of course, a “mountain” of toys, Reineri said.
“The celebration was very special; a memorable moment of the night was three bike donations given by Tim and Karen Clark and their granddaughter Gabrianah Marcus. It was such a heartfelt donation,” Reineri said.
Reineri said the toy drive organizers and volunteers have worked hard over the years to make the toy drive bigger and better.
“It started with just a few chamber members meeting after hours to share drinks and appetizers. In the beginning, there was only about a table of toys collected, and it has slowly grown into what it is today. We keep the tradition because of the great impact it has on the community,” Reineri said.
She said she already is looking forward to the 30th annual toy drive and hopes it continues to be just as successful.
“Look for our barrels in November next year. We are planning to hold our next toy drive on Dec. 11, 2025.”