Look-alike sisters and elf-volunteers, from left, oldest to youngest, Stephanie Lopez-Brunswick, Diana Lopez-Perez and Rebecca Lopez-Perez pause for a breather and a photograph after the 41st annual “Christmas Toy Box” giveaway Sunday in McCook. Santa’s elves were very pleased with the build-up to the giveaway and to the reception to it during shopping. Bike elf Tom Buresh said Toy Box bike builders gave away “right at 100” bikes, having only eight left at the end of the day. “It was a great day,” Tom said. “We probably ran a little short on the 20-inch bikes … but we can never predict what we’ll need.” Head Elf Barb Ostrum said the only sad point in the day was discovering that someone picked up the “Merry Christmas” ball cap from the memorial tribute for “Santa Bill” Stewart, a toy box volunteer for 40-some years before his death on Dec. 6, 2016. “Someone may have thought it was part of the Christmas decorations we were giving away,” Barb said. She asks whoever it was who unintentionally picked up the ball cap to bring it to the McCook office of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska at 108 West C.
Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette