Sharing Love and Generosity this Christmas

SEELEY LAKE – Loving Hearts hosted their annual Toy Sale Dec. 6. When the doors opened at 5 p.m. there was a line out the back door. The sale was wrapped up by 6 p.m. This year, the volunteers saw two individuals, whom they called angels, exemplify the love and generosity of Christmas.

All year Loving Hearts volunteers save the best toys, stuffed animals and books for their Christmas Toy Sale. This year, organizer Mary Newpower volunteered to store the items at her hanger by the airport. This alleviated some of the storage problems they have had in the past.

This year gifts were marked from 25 cents to $5 for the majority of the items. There were a few larger items with pricing ranging from $30-$100 including a Thomas the Train set, pop-up gym and brand new remote-controlled train.

"We think that is it important for the families that don't have a lot of money to be able to have the dignity to come in and purchase toys for their family," said Newpower. "This gives them the option to be able to buy something instead of always having handouts."

A mother who had three or four children moved to Seeley Lake several years ago. When she moved here, things were really tight. She told the volunteers at the Toy Sale, "If you didn't do this, my kids wouldn't have Christmas."

This year, the mother returned to the Toy Sale. She is back on her feet and she shopped for a family of six. She told volunteers they would not have had Christmas without the Toy Sale.

Another woman from Condon came this year and purchased items totaling $1.25. When she checked out she wrote a check for $51.25.

"She said I want to pay for this person's and that person's Christmas," said volunteer Cassie Swain. "They were not people that she knew, she just kind of felt like they needed a little help and a little Christmas cheer. We are don't know her name so are calling her the loving angel from Condon."

Volunteers handed out 30 stockings with candy canes to families that had children at home. They also offered free gift wrapping, which was not as popular as in years past.

Loving Hearts donated two small boxes of stuffed animals and books to Toys for Tots. They had a couple of larger toys left over that were brought back to Loving Hearts and a few smaller items but everything else sold.

"The sale was a great success," said Swain. "It was a very good turn out and went very smoothly."

Newpower approached Target and Walmart about donating to the Toy Sale. Loving Hearts was given nearly $300 in gift cards. They will use them to buy gifts for next year's sale.