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Toy Box overcomes pandemic grinch
McCOOK, Neb. — It was looking like a grim Christmas for those who counted on the McCook Toy Box, the annual toy give away that provided free bikes, toys and other gifts for children whose parents otherwise couldn’t afford them.
Supported entirely by local volunteers, community members and businesses, the donations were usually taken throughout November and crowds thronged the doors of the city auditorium for the afternoon event.
But McCook Toy Box coordinator Barb Ostrum reluctantly canceled it this year due to restrictions in place for Covid-19 and health concerns for her volunteers and those attending.
And then, a little girl and her grandpa stepped in.
In January of this year, Lexi Budke, who was four years old at the time, was life-flighted to a hospital in Omaha, Neb., after a car accident. Her pelvis was broken in two places and she had eight other fractures.
It was another traumatic time Lexi and her family had to go through, as the year before, in 2019, her mother, Stephanie Budke, was killed in a vehicle accident.
Lexi spent a month in the hospital, with her dad, Brett, brother, Owen, then seven years old, and other family members by her side. When she had recovered enough to be released, bags of stuffed animals and other toys she received during her stay in the hospital came home with her. The majority of them were wrapped up and kept in her grandparents’ garage in McCook, Blaine and Ann Budke.
Earlier this month, Lexi told her grandpa she had an idea for those bags of toys: she wanted to give the toys to children for Christmas. Blaine wanted to make that happen. Shortly afterward, he heard about the McCook Toy Box being canceled and came up with a solution: the use of his facility in McCook, Hot Tub Brokers at 210 W. Third, for the giveaway. With on-order hot tubs not coming in until later in December, there would be plenty of room, Blaine said.
In addition, he donated $1,000 in Lexi’s name to the Toy Box, that he will use to take Lexi shopping locally for new toys for the give away and as “seed” money for a challenge to other businesses.
And so the McCook Toy Box will take place after all. Ostrum said she’s thrilled to be able to use the facility; after the Toy Box was first cancelled, Ostrum, she said she had calls from parents who said they “didn’t know what they would do.”
The Toy Box helps parents who are trying to make ends meet yet still get something for their children for Christmas. “And I’d rather have people pay their electric bill than spend a lot of money on toys,” she said.
There are two changes this year for the McCook Toy Box: all donated toys must be new, not gently used and parents or custodial guardians must make an appointment to attend the Toy Box.
The give away is planned for the week of Dec. 14-19, by appointment only. Families can’t just show up like at past Toy Box give aways, Ostrum stressed. She encouraged families to make appointments sooner rather than later, as only one parent or custodial guardian per family will be allowed to participate and the number of visitors will be staggered due to Covid-19 restrictions. Appointments can be made at 345-1187.
Opened to families in Southwest Nebraska, a picture ID and a document that shows a current address will be required at the door. Masks will be required, with masks inside the facility for those without one.
And it’s totally free, Ostrum said. “For folks who are struggling, all you have to do is call,” she said. “You don’t have to be on food stamps or some other program to participate.”
New toys can be dropped off up until the final day of the giveaway (Saturday, Dec. 19) at these locations: Hot Tub Brokers, 210 W. Third, Farrell’s Pharmacy, 120 West B, Main Street Clothing, 124 Norris Ave., and Dollar General, 210 Westview Plaza. Monetary donations can be dropped off at Ostrum’s office,108 West C, or at Hot Tub Brokers.
Ostrum said she expects a smaller crowd this year compared to prior years, but that’s okay. “We’re hoping we can make some children’s Christmas a little bit brighter this year,” she said.
And for Lexi, that’s exactly what she wanted in the first place.