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East Liverpool Elks play Santa for area children

Heavenly Goddard, 11 months, seemed to enjoy her candy cane as a volunteer helps load some toys into a bag for her during the East Liverpool Elks giveaway held Christmas Day. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

EAST LIVERPOOL — For more than 100 years, members of East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258 have played Santa for thousands of children who otherwise might receive little in the way of presents on Christmas morning, and this year was the same, with a slight difference.

For the first time in its 110-year history, Tuesday’s Christmas giveaway was expanded to include children in communities other than East Liverpool, encompassing those at Beaver Local, Wellsville and upper Hancock County, W.Va.

The expansion reflected an increase in the number of donations of money, toys, coats and other goodies by groups and individuals in other areas to be given away on Christmas, according to committee member Jim Culp.

Culp said toy drives were conducted this year by St. Clair Township Police Department, Alcatraz Tattoo and Body Modifications, McKinney Furniture and Saddle Ridge Bar and Grille in Chester, W.Va. that brought in toys as well as a glove and hat drive by Home Savings Bank.

In addition, the Elks holds fund raisers throughout the year to raise money with which members then go shopping, purchasing upwards of $9,000 worth of toys to be given out on Christmas morning.

Heavenly Goddard, 11 months, seemed to enjoy her candy cane as a volunteer helps load some toys into a bag for her during the East Liverpool Elks giveaway held Christmas Day. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Everything from dinosaurs and Barbie dolls to remote control cars and fingernail decorating kits, as well as an entire table filled with new batteries for those toys needing them, awaited the kids.

Close to 50 or 60 volunteers — Elks members, their family members and others — “give up their Christmas morning to give these kids a good Christmas,” Culp said, noting many have spent every Christmas for years volunteering for this project.

This year, 450 tickets were distributed to families in the four school district whose children were chosen to receive toys through their school guidance counselors and principals, with Culp adding, “And some children just show up because they know we do it. We don’t turn anybody away.”

The numbers have grown, which Culp attributed to not only the area’s continuing poor economy but the project’s “notoriety,” with more groups learning about its existence and being willing to donate.

Culp also said the program is more attractive to families now because the day’s distribution set-up has changed somewhat than in the past, when parents and children formed long lines — sometimes from the early morning hours in freezing temperatures — waiting outside to be let in and go through a line of toys.

Among those volunteering at the East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258 Christmas Day giveaway was the Warrick family, including Jordi (left), her mother, Alisha, and her dad, Shannon, and brother, Collin, who were handing out toys on the other side of the aisle. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Today, the Elks utilize a banquet room where the families come in, have donuts, coffee and hot chocolate, and are given a Pittsburgh Pirates tote bag filled with essentials such as toothpaste and toothbrushes and other items.

Children are then given the opportunity to choose warm outerware, gloves and hats and sweatsuits before being ushered into the Elks Lodge, where Santa himself awaits for a quick visit and photos before they head for the real mother lode: a literal treasure trove of toys lined up on either side of the room.

“We let the kids pick whatever they want, then they get a wrapped gift and a sports ball. Basically, it’s an entire Christmas,” Culp said.

For many of those who participate, the morning’s activities are more than just a community service, it’s a way to pay it forward.

“Some members and volunteers working here went through his line as a child. They want to come back and pay it forward. That’s what it’s all about: helping the community and helping kids have a good Christmas,” Culp said.

Dressed for Christmas Day’s cold weather, this youngster was happy to see all the toys from which he could choose at the Elks’ giveaway. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

An Elks member for 13 years, Culp said, “My grandfather was always involved with this when I was a kid.”

He added, “You see younger adults (volunteering) who would normally be sitting underneath a Christmas tree at home but are down here instead. My kids come here first (before holding their own celebrations).”

His son, Cody Culp, related that some of the children who come to pick out a toy will hold up something and ask, “Can I get this for my brother or my cousin?” because their sibling or cousin was unable to attend.

“We get that a lot,” the younger Culp related.

Elks member David Ryan said his mother, recently deceased at the age of 92, had gotten her first baby doll during this same program many years ago.

Cael Hager, 8, joined his parents in volunteering at the annual East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258 Christmas Day, where hundreds of children received toys, winter ware, and a visit with Santa. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

One Elks member recollected his first year volunteering and taking a young boy down the line of toys, with the child rejecting first one, then another, until he spied a remote control car an said that was what he wanted, the only thing he wanted, holding on tightly when the Elks member offered to place it into the large bag each child is given for their bounty.

“I’ll just hold it right here,” he said, clutching the toy to his chest, the Elks member recalled.

When told he was allowed to choose a second toy, the little boy looked up at the Elks member and said, “No, mister, this is all I need. Let the other kids have them.”

The member walked over to his wife and told her with emotion, “I can’t do this. I’ll do the door,” and now serves by monitoring the door for those coming and going.

This same member said his own son helps out but it was difficult for him seeing many of his former classmates forced to bring their children to the toy distribution.

This little one needed a bit of advice from a volunteer in choosing from among a large selection of toys at the Christmas morning event held by the local Elks Lodge. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Nonetheless, come they do. Volunteers dressed in any manner of Christmas “finery,” including reindeer antlers, blinking lights, elf suits and more help the children through the line of toys, giving advice when needed but allowing them to choose for themselves what they want to take home.

Several entire families are often on-hand, and this Christmas Day one child was seen behind the row of toys, watching as children his own age selected toys from the selection while his mom and dad volunteered their time to the program.

His mother said they believe it is important for their son to see that there are others not as fortunate and that, for them, Christmas is not as easy as just reaching for the bank card.

The distribution is set up for children between 5 and 14, but Culp said they try to accommodate everyone who comes through the line, with a limited number of items available for babies and teenagers.

“You have to cut it off somewhere,” he lamented, explaining that purchasing the more expensive items of interest to teenagers would, in turn, limit the amount of money available to purchase other toys for the younger children.

Prior to start-up of the program, Elks members cooked a hearty breakfast for volunteers, and Culp reminded those gathered, “This wouldn’t be the event it is without all of you.”

Jeff Mercer kicked off the day’s activities with an invocation, asking, “Let them feel the spirit of Christmas” as the doors opened, and both the children and the adults found that spirit.

Volunteers managed a table filled with gloves and hats for children during the annual Christmas Day event in East Liverpool. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Tables filled with toys awaited children at the East Liverpool Elks’ annual Christmas Day giveaway, where children could choose two toys, get a wrapped gift, winter ware and a sports ball. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Kenyan Brown, 2, poses with Santa prior to choosing some toys at the Christmas Day giveaway sponsored by East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

All smiles, this little tyke met with Santa for a few minutes before filling his sack with all sorts of goodies during the East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258 Christmas giveaway. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Making a decision from among hundreds of toys was a bit difficult for this participant in the Elks toy distribution on Christmas Day in East Liverpool. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

A volunteer helps one youngster in choosing what she wants from hundreds of toys during the Christmas Day giveaway sponsored by East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

A bevy of beauties awaited children at the Elks Christmas giveaway in East Liverpool. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Everything from raptors to teddy bears were available for children during the annual East Liverpool Elks Christmas toy distribution. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Toys as far as the eye can see awaited children Christmas morning at the East Liverpool ELks Lodge 258. This year’s event was expanded to include children from Beaver Local, Wellsville and Hancock County W, W.Va. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Batteries of all shapes, sizes and power were available for children who selected toys during the annual East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258 Christmas Day giveaway. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

Members of East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258 prepare breakfast for those members and other volunteers prior to the annual Christmas morning gift giveaway for children. (Salem News photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

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