Now in its seventh year, the Wheeling Police Department and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office are gearing up for ‘Operation Toy Lift’ on Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Ohio Valley Mall in Saint Clairsville.
Those wishing to contribute to the event can purchase a new toy – for ages ranging from infant to teenager and drop it off at the Toy Lift site. The first 100 people to drop off a toy will receive a free Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit.
This day starts with a small parade around the mall, with Santa promptly arriving at the Toy Lift site at 10 a.m. Anyone interested can attend. After the parade, donation drop-offs will be accepted until 4 p.m. in the parking lot next to Ulta Beauty. Various community members from the Ohio Valley will be helping throughout the day by grabbing the public’s attention from the roadway in the ‘Toy Lift.’
“Now seven years in, the support of this even amazes me,” Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said. “It’s humbling to see how many Ohio Valley children are impacted by the generosity of others. I look forward to another successful event and am eager to see our community come out on December 9.”
“Operation Toy Lift has grown by the overwhelming support from our communities in Ohio and West Virginia. I want to also thank all our partners for all their hard work making this happen,” Belmont County Sheriff Dave Lucas added. “We are asking our community again to give hope for our kids by supporting Operation Toy Lift.”
When the event concludes, the toys will be distributed to those in need through the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation can make a cash donation or write a check to the United Way for the Upper Ohio Valley and write in the memo line “Toy Lift.”
In addition to Wheeling Police and Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, organizers for the event include the Ohio Valley Mall, American Electric Power, City of Wheeling, Cumberland Trail Fire Department, Belmont County Student Services, Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Association, Community Bank, iHeartRadio, Belmont Savings Bank, Bill’s Towing, EQT, FedEx, Wheeling Ohio-County EMA and WTRF-TV.
