Black Hills Toy Drive

Santa’s Helpers

Local group unites to give hope to children this holiday season

STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI PHOTOS BY SHILOH FRANCIS

Last year, 3,000 disadvantaged children throughout Pennington County received Christmas gifts collected through the local chapter of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

This year, however, the local organization disbanded, leaving uncertainty for hundreds of low-income families.

The thought of a child not having a present on Christmas morning brought a small group of community members together to ensure that all families have hope this holiday season.

“We just thought, ‘we can’t leave these kids behind’,” said Rachelle White, former Toys for Tots volunteer and owner of RWhite Events. “As a mom, especially, I think it really speaks to you when you realize the poverty that is happening and the homelessness of children in Rapid City. We just had to do it.”

Rachelle, along with Chris Cooper of Mission 22, Nick Rottum of Colt45 Entertainment, and Scott Eggleston of Affiliated Mortgage, formed Black Hills Toy Drive to make sure no child is left behind this Christmas.

The group officially launched the drive in late October and had nearly 700 kids registered in just two weeks.

Rachelle volunteered for Toys for Tots for five years, organizing the big “Breakfast with the Grinch” fundraiser. She realized there were no Toys for Tots this year after calling to place radio ads for the breakfast.

I THINK IT REALLY SPEAKS TO YOU WHEN YOU REALIZE THE POVERTY THAT IS HAPPENING AND THE HOMELESSNESS OF CHILDREN IN RAPID CITY. WE JUST HAD TO DO IT.

She didn’t believe the news at first.

“It really is a huge undertaking and can be taxing after doing it for so many years.”

Rachelle and Chris, who plays the Grinch at the breakfast, tried to become ambassadors through Toys for Tots. However, they were too late to join the program this year.

Without the support of the national organization, the two doubted they could pull it off. “We thought about waiting until next year and then starting the process of getting approved and getting it back. However, we also knew how much it helps, so we jumped in and started to collect as many toys and fundraise as much as possible.”

The response has been unbelievable.

“It has been awesome to see the support we have had from the community. We have had a lot of people reach out and say they are thankful we are continuing and asking how they can help. Businesses are offering gift cards and discounts if you bring a toy into their location,” Rachelle said. “That has been so special to me. My fear at first was that we were going to have all these kids registered and not have enough toys. We have an Amazon wish list, and I have already been receiving gifts.”

Another change this year is that children from all Black Hills communities can register. Toys for Tots was limited to Pennington County. Distribution day will be like past years. Tables are set up by age, and parents and guardians will be able to choose the gift for their child and get it gift-wrapped by volunteers from Affiliated Mortgage. “This really keeps humanity in the process. Allowing them to choose something they know their child will enjoy is important. You see all the gratefulness in the parents, aunties, and grandmas that have custody of the kids.”

The group has discussed whether to rejoin Toys for Tots next year or form Black Hills Toy Drive as its own nonprofit. They will likely make a decision after this year’s event. “There has been a lot of support from the community, and I think that when you are a big national organization like Toys for Tots, sometimes people are confused about where the money goes and how it benefits the kids of our community. When you know it is someone who lives and works here and whose kids go to school with these kids, I think people have more of a sense of ownership.”

For more information on the Black Hills Toy Drive, including a list of drop-off locations and to register a child, go to https://www.facebook. com/blackhillstoydrive

UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS INCLUDE THE BAD SANTA PUB CRAWL DEC. 3 AND BREAKFAST WITH THE GRINCH DEC. 10. TOYS WILL BE COLLECTED UNTIL DECEMBER 10, WITH DISTRIBUTION DAY ON DECEMBER 17 FROM 8 A.M. – 1 P.M. AT ROBBINSDALE LANES.