Community Christmas provides toys, food, clothes to needy
2,300 people were expected to be helped by annual holiday program
FREMONT - Hundreds of residents filled their cars with toys, food and clothing at Terra State Community College Wednesday, as Community Christmas brought together a number of organizations looking to brighten the holidays for those in need.
Donations were distributed at the college's Student Activities Center.
Among the items given away on Wednesday were presents donated by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program, food from the Sandusky County Food Pantry, and bicycles donated by Whirlpool Corp. in Clyde.
Sandusky County Community Christmas Chairman John Havens said about 2,300 people were expected to come through the doors at Terra State for the program, which is in its 25th year.
Havens said Community Christmas received 739 applications for help this year, and that this was the first time in 25 years organizers were able to give 100 percent matches for community members' applications.
"Donations were extremely good this year," said Havens, dressed as Santa Claus, as he greeted visitors to the Terra State SAC.
About 650 children in Sandusky County received toys through the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program.
Volunteers loaded toys into bags and helped residents wheel the presents to their cars.
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Senior citizens, including Ann Rusin of Fremont, also showed up to pick up donated items and food.
"Community Christmas is the best thing ever," Rusin said, as she and her friend, Brenda Thompson, also of Fremont, loaded up a blue Kia with food and wrapped items with help from several volunteers outside of the Terra State building.
Havens said Whirlpool donated 37 bicycles for kids.
Children ages 12 and under were eligible for toys, clothes and food, with seniors 65 and older able to receive clothes, food, and personal and household items.
Havens said another community organization collected gifts for children ages 13 to 17, provided they had younger siblings who were receiving donated gifts.
Community Christmas board member Mandy Burris said there were between 90 and 100 donors this year, the highest number she could recall in recent years.
"Some of them have been people we've helped before," Burris said.
The annual Community Christmas giveaway distributes presents, food, and clothes to hundreds of families regardless of income.
Burris said applications were sent to community members in October.
dacarson@gannett.com
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Twitter: @DanielCarson7