By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
More than 100 children and teenagers received gifts from the 20th Gregg Lynn’s Christmas for Kids Toy Drive.
KESJ Program Director Gregg Lynn says the annual toy drive that wrapped up with a live broadcast at East Hills Mall in St. Joseph on Black Friday distributed more than 1,000 Christmas presents to children in foster care as residents of the YWCA Shelter, and the Noyes Home for Children. The drive also provided dozens of plush animals to Voices of Courage Children’s Advocacy Center as well as $9,000 to The Care Portal, Adopt A Family, YWCA Shelter, and The Noyes Home for Children.
The toy drive began the first of November. It is an outgrowth of a simple effort a little more than 20 years ago when an elderly veteran named Ernie gathered toys for about eight children in his own toy drive. Gregg Lynn picked up the program where Ernie left off, deciding initially to raise money and gather toys of the Noyes Home. Lynn says the drive then took on the challenge of helping children in foster care in the St. Joseph area, It expanded to include those at the YWCA Shelter.