Not-Forgotten Box toys, food distributed at Elyria Salvation Army

ELYRIA — After a season of giving, many of the toys, food, clothes and other items donated to The Not-Forgotten Box were distributed to families in need at the Elyria Salvation Army on Thursday. More than 300 bags full of toys and clothes were spread across the gymnasium floor, along with even more boxes full of food, for families in need who had signed up in advance. A total of 9,239 toys were donated to the Not-Forgotten Box this year, surpassing the 8,000-toy goal. In addition to the toys given out Thursday, the Salvation Army had already shared others with organizations in Lorain County that needed help with their holiday giving efforts. Major Robert Sears, officer of the Elyria Salvation Army, said this year's holiday distribution day went smoothly with around 20 volunteers chipping in to load the toys and food into carts before being delivered to families' cars. Many of the kids who will be unwrapping Not-Forgotten Box toys on Christmas were in school, unaware of what their parents were getting for them. But on the other side, at least one mother let her kids miss school to volunteer to distribute the gifts. "She wants them to see and really help people," Sears said. He usually likes to hang around during the distribution, but this year he was out bell-ringing with the red kettle as the Salvation Army tries to make up for a slow start to the season. Rebecca Haywood, case manager at the Elyria Salvation Army, was helping out with distribution, and she said the donations have a major impact on the families receiving them. "They are hardworking people. It's just that Christmas is, financially, a little too much for them to take on," she said. "I think it's really a relief to them when we tell them we can take care of the Christmas part for you. We can help you with toys and food and you can just be a parent." The food boxes were full of rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables and more. Some of the food was donated by individuals and the rest came from Second Harvest Food Bank. "It's not just about needing toys for Christmas. They need help with food as well," Haywood said. "These food boxes have the makings of a nice Christmas dinner, with a turkey or a chicken depending on the size of the family." The Not-Forgotten Box drive was founded in 1958 by The Chronicle-Telegram as a way to give back to Lorain County families in need. Publisher Bill Hudnutt said he was impressed with the toy driving exceeding its goal this year, considering it was on a shortened schedule with Thanksgiving coming later than usual. "Its success is really just a reflection of the community's generosity and less so what we're doing," Hudnutt said. "The more it grows is really just an indicator of the community's desire to help." Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com.