“Kirk’s has been a partner with Toys for Tots for several years, they’re a staple in our community,” volunteer Lauren Boyle said. “People know they can just drop off toys, people will drop off toys in March knowing that he participates every year.”

Just like many other events and such, Toys for Tots is facing challenges in this pandemic-riddled year. They had to change their strategy to collecting gifts while keeping the community safe, so they came up with a drive-up drop off.

“In the eyes of COVID, people need a socially distant way to be able to still participate and this year more than ever people and going to need support and kids are going to need toys so we created this drive-up event so people can drive up, hand us their toys, we unload their trunks and they can drive away and they don’t have to worry about walking into businesses,” Boyle explained.

“We usually have 130 boxes throughout the county and we’re down about 60,” Event Coordinator Patrick Smeraldo added. “We did one last week in Jamestown at Foote Avenue Plaza, this one and then we’re doing one at the Chautauqua Mall on Nov. 28.”

Despite the change, however, the turnout had been wonderful as within an hour they already had to take two big carloads over to drop off at the Resource Center.

“Customers have been dropping off monetary donations all week long, they can purchase a train for a donation, they can drop off toys,” Kirk’s wife and event sponsor Sharon Frey stated. “It’s a good time and it’s nice to see that people even with COVID are still really giving to the community because we’re anticipating a greater need, so many people have been affected.”

Kirk Frey himself soon came out and explained further how he became wrapped up in the Toys for Tots campaign.

“So we started a number of years ago with Lauren and one little box and it just kept getting filled, so we did it again and it just kept getting bigger,” Frey said. “Now with the COVID we needed some way to continue this and this idea that they came up with is amazing.”

Frey has a standing agreement with 11-year-old Sage Zachmann from Westfield as well, whatever gifts she collects, he doubles it. This year Zachmann brought him 82 gifts.

“I love doing it and people need it this year especially,” Frey added. “Think about what’s going to happen when a child opens a gift on Christmas, Toys for Tots should say ‘with a smile,’ that’s what’s going to happen, they’re going to have a smile and that’s what counts.”

Kirk’s Jewelers is continuing to accept gifts now through December.