While you’re gathering treats at this evening’s Light Up Night, you may want to consider dropping off a shiny new toy at the Kids G.I.V.E. Back tent. Located at the corner of Center and Main streets, the kid-driven organization – just launched a few months ago – will be collecting new toys to benefit Charlotte’s Toy Drive.

 

Comprised of mostly elementary school-age members, Kids G.I.V.E. Back was recently visited by 10-year-old Charlotte Kirby who started the toy drive seven years ago because she didn’t want homeless kids to be sad because they didn’t get toys for Christmas. It was a simple concept, but one which grew to collect 15,000 toys in 2017.

 

“Charlotte came and spoke with the kids in November and they were real excited and wanted to help,” said Ashley Hotsinpiller, founder of Kids G.I.V.E. Get Involved, Value Everyone) Back. “You could see expressions on their faces as her words sunk in and they realized that not everybody has what they have.”

 

Though parents have to do much of the legwork for the organization, much of the decision-making process is done by the young members.

 

“We like to expose them to kids around their age, like Charlotte, to inspire them to come up with their own causes and be passionate about it,” Hotsinpiller said.

 

All toys collected for Charlotte’s Toy Drive will be set up at Clarksburg Baptist Church where those in need can “shop” for their children Dec. 18.

 

Those who can’t drop off toys at Light Up Night can deliver them to any of the following Bridgeport collection centers. There are also centers in other cities. See a full list at the Charlotte’s Toy Drive Facebook page.

 

Bridgeport Physical Therapy, Bridgeport Presbyterian Church, Bridgeport United Methodist Church, Cooper Law Offices, Dock to Table, Enliven Wellness, Jenkins Subaru, Meagher’s Irish Pub, Rominger Dental, Studio 9 Dance Academy, WDTV or Walgreens. For a toy pick-up, call 757-376-7767.

 

Kids G.I.V.E. Back is involved in another December project, taking meals to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital on Dec. 15. In November, members collected food items and assembled Thanksgiving meal boxes for area families. The organization worked with local schools to find local families in need. The goal was five boxes and the kids assembled 16, Hotsinpiller said, plus made food donations to the local Backpack Program.

 

After the holidays, Kids G.I.V.E. Back will take a break in January, then regroup in February to plan projects for 2019. About 25 kids are involved in the organization, which has also completed projects to benefit Operation Christmas Child and the Harrison County Humane Society, among others.