A longstanding holiday drive in Bellevue is expanding this year, offering not only toys but warm coats and winter gear to families in need.
The Bellevue toy drive has been going on for over 30 years. It started as a few families funded personally by the Fire Department of Bellevue-Dayton and has grown into a community-wide effort. In addition to that tradition, this year the city is adding a new effort to collect warm winter clothes for families in need.
The department is set to help seven families from Bellevue and seven families from Dayton. The families will receive meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Christmas, toys, and this year coats and warm gear, from the new “Bundle up Bellevue” initiative.
“It is so important to us because we just love giving back to the community,” said Bellevue/Dayton Fire Chief Brent Shafer. “Most of the time when we see somebody and have interactions in the community, they are having one of the worst days of their lives. For us to be able to be part of one of the best days of their lives just goes without words.”
The Bellevue Dayton firefighters are collecting new, unwrapped toys now through Dec. 13. Cash, checks or Venmo donations can be made at WesBanco,164 Fairfield Ave., or the Fire Department of Bellevue-Dayton at 514 6th Ave. Checks must be made out to Local 3751 and Venmo donations can be sent to @local3751. The city building, at 616 Poplar St., is also accepting toys and checks for the drive.
Toy suggestions include:
- Nerf toys
- Legos
- Board games
- Barbies
- RC cars/trucks
- Makeup sets
- Puzzles
- Sports balls
“The people of Bellevue are always generous when it comes to helping neighbors who are less fortunate,” said Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves. “We knew our city would support this effort because of the strong response we have seen in the past, including the recent emergency shelter drive. This year, we wanted to do something that makes a difference in someone’s holiday. In past years, we focused on raising money for food and other needs. This year, we decided to meet another basic need.”
That other need is warm clothes.
The city is launching Bundle Up Bellevue, an effort to help families stay warm this winter. Cleves built a wooden snowman that will be on display at the annual Tree Lighting on Nov. 29 to collect donations. Local 3751 is raising funds to purchase coats, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, shoes, and warm gear. Community members can buy a snowball for $25 and help the city build the snowman from the ground up. Bellevue’s goal is to raise $2,500.
Items can be dropped off at the city building, fire department, or Wes Banco by Dec. 13.
“Charlie and I came up with this idea because we know times are tough, and some years the money raised through the Toy Drive can only stretch so far,” said Bellevue Director of Marketing and Communications Melissa Morandi. “We want to make sure every family we help has what they need to stay warm. This effort guarantees that each child and each parent will receive a coat, not just toys. It is one more way we can take care of our neighbors. We hope this will become an annual tradition.”