Menu
Toy Box distribution benefits from new changes
McCOOK, Neb. -- The spirit of Christmas giving was much more apparent at a "new-and-improved" McCook "Christmas Toy Box" distribution at Memorial Auditorium on Sunday. Santa's elves on Sunday afternoon witnessed a much more civilized, friendly and relaxed shopping atmosphere than at past Toy Box distributions.
A re-engineered table layout and residency requirements went far to eliminate much of the free-for-all assault on tables and chaotic, frenzied shopping that can develop during Christmas shopping experiences.
Head Toy Box Elf Barb Ostrum was very pleased with the changes that she and fellow elves felt were necessary to reduce what can become "the greed of the season." Barb said late Sunday afternoon, "Our numbers (of shoppers) were down because of the new rules requiring photo ID and proof of residency. But between that and the new table design, it was a much more pleasant experience for shoppers, and for our elves."
Barb's instructions to shoppers were to wind their way through the table maze, follow the blue arrows on the floor and "Please, take only what you need, so that everyone can have a good Christmas."
One of Barb's volunteer elves had devised, since last year's Toy Box, a layout to the tables that slowed shoppers down. Barb explained, "Someone spent a lot of hours this past year figuring out this table layout. And it worked very well."
Also, Santa's elves, in stocking the tables throughout the week, did not place all of one type of toy or doll or age-appropriate gift in one location. So no one could swoop in and scoop up all the Barbie dolls, or all the Nascar collectibles, or all the Star Wars figures, or all the green John Deere tractors, or all the baby toys.
"No one became over-zealous with their shopping this year," Barb said, smiling.
Barb said about seven groups of shoppers were rebuffed by the requirement of residency in seven counties in Southwest Nebraska and four in Northwest Kansas. The new rules had been advertised extensively over the past month, she said. "We had shoppers from North Platte, some from far outlying communities and even from southern Kansas, who were not allowed to shop," she said. "We encourage them to 'shop local.' We do."
"Our numbers this year may have been down because of previous bad experiences," Barb said. "Our changes this year addressed those, and we'll continue them for future Toy Box distributions."
Barb said this was the first Toy Box distribution since the death of Bill Stewart, "Santa Bill," who was involved in the community's toy giveaway, by most accounts, from its inception 40 to 50 years ago. Bill died Dec. 6, at the age of 89. His funeral was Dec. 12, the first day of the Toy Box set-up.
Barb said that she and her elves feel honored to carry on the Toy Box tradition that Bill helped created over so many years. She said they want to preserve what is good about the Toy Box and its spirit of generosity and sharing, and make sure that's what carries on into the future, in honor of Bill.
Barb said she was very grateful for her elves' assistance, for a police officer's assistance with determining compliance with residency requirements, for Santa's appearance at the distribution, and for Anna Haller of Linda Maiden's State Farm Insurance office in McCook for "Photos with Santa," Linda's gift every year to the Toy Box and the community.
Santa's bike elves have several bikes remaining. To inquire about a bike, call Barb at her office, the McCook location of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, at (308) 345-1187, (leave a message, if necessary) from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.