Holiday assistance requests increase for charitable toy drive
Family financial hardships being driven by the COVID-19 pandemic are driving the Macomb Charitable Foundation’s Christmas Toy Drive this year.
“Families who ordinarily ‘get by’ are now suffering,” Macomb Charitable Foundation (MCF) President Shelly Penzien said. “They’ve lost their job, they’ve lost their home and they don’t have day care to get another job because the schools are virtual.”
While last year the foundation assisted 130 families and 489 children during the holidays, this year the holiday count has grown to 157 families consisting of 540 children.
“In addition to the 157 we help at Christmas, approximately 80 other families received help from MCF,” Penzien said. “Of the 157 we help at Christmas, about 75 are on our rolls all year long. They receive assistance all year from MCF.”
The non-profit charitable organization Macomb Charitable Foundation is based in Macomb Township. It is dedicated to providing assistance to homeless and poverty level children or families in Macomb County. The organization assists with things such as rent and utilities, food, clothing, vehicle repair and personal care items as well as providing holiday assistance.
The MCF began accepting donations of new, unwrapped gifts on Dec. 1 and will continue to take them through Dec. 14 at drop off locations. Toys are accepted for children from birth on up, and gift cards of any monetary denomination are also accepted for families and teens ages 13-18. Penzien said that the most requested gift cards by teens include Amazon, GameStop, Foot Locker, Marshalls and Walmart.
On Dec. 11, Macomb Township Parks and Recreation will present Santa’s Cruise. The free event will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at and near Macomb Township Recreation Center, at 20699 Macomb Street, off of Broughton Road and south of 25 Mile Road in Macomb Township. As families drive towards the end of the cruise, they can donate a new, unwrapped toy for any age range at the last station if they so choose. Toys will benefit the MCF.
Donations for the MCF Christmas Toy Drive are accepted at the following locations:
• Macomb Township Recreation Center: 20699 Macomb Street, Macomb Township
• Macomb Township Fire Station One: 19925 23 Mile Road, Macomb Township
• Macomb Township Fire Station Two: 17800 21 Mile Road, Macomb Township
• Macomb Township Fire Station Three: 47711 North Avenue, Macomb Township
• Macomb Township Fire Station Four: 16820 25 Mile Road, Macomb Township
• Hessell’s Greenhouse: 14497 23 Mile Road, Shelby Township
• Heritage Oaks Garden Center: 58860 Romeo Plank Road, Ray Township
Gift cards can also be accepted via mail at MCF, P.O. Box 217, Washington 48094. They are used directly by families and by MCF volunteers to shop for families, Penzien said.
MCF began accepting referrals for Christmas help in late September, with the main source of referrals as schools.
“It takes many man hours to process one family. Once the family is referred, we contact them and ask them to fill out our application. Each child in the family fills out a ‘wish list,’” Penzien said.
The MCF has a team that contacts each family and reviews requests. At the end of this process, lists are typed up and assigned to sponsors who registered to assist a family during the holidays.
Penzien said that the majority of the families on the MCF’s list will receive items by Dec. 18. She also said that deliveries can be made up until Christmas for last minute referrals
“Our pick up this year is drive-thru,” Penzien said. “Anything delivered will be left outside the motel room door to limit any interaction.”
Since COVID-19 began in March, the MCF has been assisting homeless and poverty level families registered with them by providing food, clothing and hygiene products such as masks and disinfectant.