Rosie Smith’s spirit lives on
Toy for Tots concert got its start by Smith 28 years ago
Rosie Smith was a true pillar of the community and once she had an idea to strengthen the community there was no stopping her. Especially when there was a need to help families struggling with putting food on their tables and presents under their trees for Christmas.
“This event started with Rosie in 1990,” says Richard VanderHaeghe. “And we’ve been going ever since. I’m wearing a Rose pin in her honour.”
Rosie died four years ago, but her idea to have an annual Christmas concert to collect toys and non-perishable for the community continues to grow stronger each year.
VanderHaeghe and Rosie’s son, Greg Smith, organize the Toys for Tots Concert, and say the event is all about making sure the holidays are happy for families in Welland.
“That’s what it is all about. We want to make sure everyone has something on Christmas. Whether it’s a present or food. That’s what we are here for,” says Smith.
There are over 50 volunteers that come together to create the event, and VanderHaeghe says each one is needed to make it the success it has been since the first concert.
“It’s a great function. All the volunteers make it happen. All the food is donated and everyone helping run during the actual day is here to help. No one here is getting paid anything, including the musicians. And these are phenomenal entertainers giving up their time. Everybody does it because they want to and I think that is a wonderful thing,” says VanderHaeghe.
All toys donated by guests will be given to the community Christmas toy program and the food donations will be given to the Salvation Army.
VanderHaeghe says the need for help within the community fluctuates from year to year, although he thinks the need never decreases.
“Some years it is a little worse than others,” he says. “Rosie and I had a lot of fun during the years running the event, but more importantly, if you look at the back wall here with the tables full of toys, that is what it is all about. People are generally good, and if you give them the opportunity to do something good, they will. This is proof of it. Thanks to the generosity of the public, on Christmas morning there will be a bunch of kids running down the stairs and having a gift to open and it will make them smile.”
Smith says he can feel his mom’s presence during the event.
“I am here in memory of my mom, Rosie,” he says. “There was a need in the community and my mom decided that she was going to address that need. My mother was a force to be reckoned with. She would get people together and do things. The Winter Carnival, Rose Parade and Santa Claus Parade was all her doing. And that’s what she did here. She got everybody together to help.”