York County fire departments pitch in to help Holiday Partners toy drive

Dec. 16--George Schwab, a member of the Lesslie Volunteer Fire Department, wanted to help ensure that needy children in York County have a happy Christmas this year.

During a chiefs' meeting in November, Schwab rallied members of York County's volunteer fire departments to help collect gifts through the Toys for Happiness program. He said all the county's volunteer departments signed up to participate.

"There are so many families and children who are deserving of a beautiful Christmas," said Schwab, an agent with Correll Insurance in Rock Hill. "Without this, they maybe would have nothing."

Toys collected through the Lesslie department and others across York County will be distributed to children through the United Way of York County's Holiday Partners program.

Holiday Partners is a collaborative effort between The Herald's Empty Stocking Fund and WRHI's Toys for Happiness, providing toys to brighten the holidays of children across York County.

The program serves families in need with children from birth to age 14.

Program coordinator Jeanie Dubrouillet said businesses and other organizations across York County have generously pitched in.

"People have dug into their pockets and contributed," she said, "and they've donated a lot of stuff."

Holiday Partners, which has been choosing and packing toys for children in families who applied for the assistance, expects to serve 681 families and 1,577 children this year, Dubrouillet said.

Toys for Happiness provides boxes at businesses and other sites across York County where donors can drop off toys. The Empty Stocking Fund collects cash donations, which go to the Holiday Partners program for the purchase of toys.

Schwab, a volunteer firefighter in Lesslie for 51 years, said the department collected toys and also donated $150 cash. Many other departments also made significant donations, he said.

"The fire departments in York County have really poured out the giving spirit," Schwab said, "being sure that children will have toys and bicycles for Christmas."

Want to help?

-- Donate to The Herald's Empty Stocking Fund by mailing donations to or dropping them off at The Herald, 132 W. Main St., Rock Hill, SC 29730. Checks should be made to Empty Stocking Fund, c/o UWYC. For more information on how to contribute, call 803-329-4052.

-- Donate to WRHI's Toys For Happiness by dropping off new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes at locations around York County. Local sites include WRHI/Interstate 107 radio stations, 142 N. Confederate Ave., Rock Hill; and the United Way of York County, 226 Northpark Drive, Suite 100, Rock Hill. For information on how to get a donation box placed, call WRHI's Corree Carelock at 803-324-1340.

Empty Stocking Fund donors

Here's a list of the generous folks who have donated more than $5,700 so far to The Herald's 2015 Empty Stocking Fund:

Mary C. Hall, Rock Hill

Paula Bourgeois, Rock Hill

Mildred A. Moore, Rock Hill

Rock Hill Parks & Recreation Department

Harry & Virginia Miller, Rock Hill

John D. Beam Jr., Rock Hill

Elliott S. Close, Rock Hill

Robert Wilusz, Rock Hill

Frances Cauthen, Rock Hill

Mark C. Sample, Rock Hill

Meredith Bynum, Rock Hill

Dennis & Vivian Harrington, Rock Hill

Harold G. Buice, Rock Hill

Gerald & Barbara Schapiro, Rock Hill

William & Catherine Gregory, Rock Hill

Elizabeth Stratton, Rock Hill

Madge T. Duncan, Rock Hill

Mary B. Mallaney, Rock Hill

The Begans, York

Strickland & Keels P.A., Chester

Joseph & Evelyn McLeish, Rock Hill

Frankie R. Lowder, Rock Hill

Jane E. Ligon, Rock Hill

Lambert & Mary Medenblik, Rock Hill

Stanley & Rosmarie Janeski, Rock Hill

The Fan Man Inc., Rock Hill

Harold & Patsy Walker, Rock Hill

Linus & Judith Halin, Rock Hill

Anonymous donor, Rock Hill

R.L. & Jan McCoy, Rock Hill

Anonymous donor, Rock Hill

Elliott & Brenda Bollinger, Rock Hill

Dennis & Nancy Coleman, Rock Hill

Dianne Arrowsmith, York

David & Judy Dobrowski, Rock Hill

Kenneth & Carolyn Yates, Rock Hill

Pat Youngblood, Rock Hill

Larry Stroman, Rock Hill

Gerald & Penny MacDonald, Fort Mill

Debbie Abels, Charlotte

Rachel Ouellette, Rock Hill

Alison Mallard, Rock Hill

Hiram Hutchison, Rock Hill

Ronnie Faulkner, Rock Hill

Frank Robards, Rock Hill

Barry Grant, Rock Hill

Anonymous

Zeta Amicae, Rock Hill

Beverly Ernandez, Rock Hill

Swain Sheppard, Rock Hill

Raymond & Linda Zieverink, Rock Hill

John & Margaret Hook, Rock Hill

Broadus Thomasson, Rock Hill

The Barnes Family, Rock Hill

Walter L. Horton

Jane Freeman (in honor of Eleanor Rose & her baby brother), Rock Hill

Craig & Nadine Scott, Fort Mill

John Covington (in memory of Martha Covington), Rock Hill

Nancy & Peter Burroughs, Fort Mill

Pam Morrell, Rock Hill

Kwik Klean Storage, Rock Hill

Ray & Ginny Lowder, Rock Hill

The Neely Family, Columbia

Genevieve & Delmar Long, Rock Hill

James & Sharon Hoffman, Rock Hill

B.H. Faulkenberry (in memory of Joan P. Faulkenberry), Rock Hill

Tony Lee, Rock Hill

Edith Blessing, Tega Cay

Doris Bennett, York

Earlene Massey, Rock Hill

Carol Martin, Rock Hill

Reesa McCrorey, Rock Hill

Tamara & Dale Hennessey, Fort Mill

Anonymous donor, Fort Lawn

Susan Smith, Rock Hill

Sara Kay Lynes, Rock Hill

Mathilde Pester, Rock Hill

Gordon & Jane Shull, Rock Hill

David & Elizabeth Morton, Rock Hill

Margaret McCarter, Rock Hill

Earl & Flicka Gault, Rock Hill

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