Toy packing with the Chatham Goodfellows. December 13, 2016. (Photo by Natalia Vega)Toy packing with the Chatham Goodfellows. December 13, 2016. (Photo by Natalia Vega)
Chatham

Time To Pack Up

The last of the donated toys are expected to be packed up Thursday night, as the Chatham Goodfellows wrap up toy packing.

The packing process started Monday night, taking about four days to box the piles of donated toys.

Board Director Tim Mifflin says the number of people who have shown up to help is outstanding, adding people lined-up out the door to volunteer.

"We're overwhelmed," says Mifflin. "It's one thing to donate the money, and we truly appreciate the toys and money, but the other component that really makes this happen - and we're totally volunteer - is the sweat equity."

Mifflin explains the system they have in place at the Guspro building.

There's one group that sorts through the donated toys and then separates them into the appropriate bins; that's where the toy packers come in.

Toy packing with the Chatham Goodfellows. December 13, 2016. (Photo by Natalia Vega) Toy packing with the Chatham Goodfellows. December 13, 2016. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

"People get in the line and they're given a box - usually two people to a box," he says. "The box may say a 7-year-old girl, two-year-old boy and an infant so they go through and pick five toys for each."

One person standing in line Tuesday night was Dave Smith.

For the past ten years, Smith along with his wife and daughter have volunteered to pack toys.

"[We do this] just to give back to the community," says Smith. "I think it's great, (what the Goodfellows do) they have a good system".

The last night of toy packing will be held Thursday at the Guspro Building on Grand Ave., from 6pm-8pm.

Toys will be delivered December 20, at 5:30pm.

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