Photo courtesy of Sherry Graven from 2023

Several less fortunate Greene County youth were treated to an early Christmas.

About 325 children were given toys as part of the Greene County Toy Drive. Last year 285 kids came away with toys. Families sign up through Greene County New Opportunities and Coordinator Teresa Lansman is appreciative of all the donations and says she is seeing increases in all of her programs, including the Greene County Toy Drive.

“Each family that has not struggled before, they’re asking how they sign up for stuff (and) where they go for help. When they find out that there’s help out there, they’re almost embarrassed to take it. I said, ‘Everybody’s in a hard spot once or twice in their lives.’ We are lucky enough to have this support and have this coming to us. And they always say, ‘When we’re in a better spot, we’re going to give back.’ So that is amazing.”

Donations for the Greene County Toy Drive or any of the community programs with Greene County New Opportunities can be dropped off at Lansman’s office at 1401 North Elm Street and you can call her at 515-386-2719.