Earlier this week was the distribution for the Toys for Greene County Kids program.

Greene County New Opportunities Coordinator Teresa Lansman says 320 kids were given a bag full of presents, which was comparable to last year’s numbers of youth that were in need. She appreciates all of the volunteers that ensured a smooth running operation this year, leading up to the distribution day this past Tuesday at Clover Hall on the Greene County Fairgrounds.

“Everything went really well. We had amazing volunteers to pack up the bags on Sunday, and our volunteers to help out with Adopt-A-Family (on Saturday) stayed and unpacked all the toys and got the tables all set up. I was doing something else and I came back and all of the toys were out, and just seeing people working (and) doing what they already had known what to do helped so much.”

Lansman expresses her gratitude to everyone that donates to this cause as she recalls the uncertainty she first had when this program became a local endeavor.

“The first few years I stressed about where toys were coming from and what the kids are going to have for Christmas. And I take all these kids and act like they’re my own, I got to make sure that they wake up Christmas morning to amazing things. The community has just made so much of a relief.”   

Lansman especially thanks the efforts of Sherry Graven for being another collection site for toys and for her passion to support kids and families in need any time of the year in the county.