The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Heinen’s employees make Christmas special
A group of Willoughby Heinen’s employees adopt families or hospitals each year for the holidays.
This year they contacted the Lake County Board of DD/Deepwood.
Three families who are struggling will have gifts for each person to unwrap this Christmas thanks to the generosity of Heinen’s employees. Three employees Mary Ann McClintock, Toni Harvey and Kathy Stewart organized this mission. They posted lists of gift ideas and ways to support the adoption effort in the Heinen’s break room.
Each day co-workers impressed them with their kindness and generosity by bringing in gifts or donating money to make the holiday happier for these families.
The Sushi chef gave them envelopes with a gift for each family. McClintock, Harvey and Stewart monitored the donations and compared them to the lists to ensure that each family member received gifts from their wish list. They took the cash donations and shopped for missing items. Co-workers came in early or spent their lunch hours wrapping presents and labeling them.
On Dec. 18, the group from Heinen’s brought boxes and bags of gifts to the Lake County Board of DD/Deepwood. A representative for each family from Deepwood met them to take the gifts to the families. Service and Support Administrators, Michelle Lindrose and Susan Vecchio represented the two families consisting of a mother and daughter struggling to make ends meet. These mothers put their daughters first and rarely if ever spend money on themselves. The wrapped gifts for both mom and daughters will make their Christmas merrier. The third family of eight, six children and their parents were overwhelmed with several bags of gifts for their children all labeled and ready to wrap. Heinen’s benefactors even included wrapping paper, boxes, tissue and tags.
Also, the Willoughby Branch employees (with and without disabilities) collected over 150 toys for the Toys for Tots campaign. The toys were delivered this past weekend.
Broadmoor Positive School Climate gave donations to the Friends of Recovery. Willoughby Advocacy and Broadening Abilities sent over 100 cards and candy to an Army base in Kuwait.
Mentor United Methodist Church provided Christmas baskets for families at Broadmoor and Deepwood Foundation sponsored a Giving Trees at various agency locations for other individuals and families in need during this holiday season.