Dear Editor,
Christmas is less than two-and-a-half months away and the Community Christmas Toy Store is gearing up to provide the needy children in our community with a happy Christmas. Part of our giving tradition has been to provide a new pillow to the children (except infants).
We need your readers? help to watch for bargains and sales of new pillows. These sales will be coming up and we ask that you buy a couple or some if you can-just the regular size. Please save them until the beginning of November and then take them to Mabelena’s, our local quilting store in town owned and operated by Brenda Heffernan.
She and her wonderful sewing crew will donate the time and materials to make lovely handmade pillowcases to go on each donated pillow. The pillowcases are age and sex appropriate and are much appreciated. Children who are needy often don’t have their very own pillow, and getting a new one, with a handmade pillowcase is something very special. Brenda and the sewing ladies of Mabelena’s have been doing this project for many years and we really appreciate their efforts to provide a unique and welcome gift.
Betty Stewart
President, Community ChristmasToy
Store

Dear Editor,
The Community Christmas Toy Store (CCTS) would like to thank the Moms Club of Ortonville and Goodrich and the Brandon Fire Department (BFD) for hosting an excellent event for the children of our community on Sunday, Oct. 23 in Crossman Park. The kids were treated to candy and goodies at many ‘treat stations.? The last stop was a visit with Santa and pictures. The kids were able to view and find out all about a fire truck courtesy of the BFD. The admission was one new toy for the CCTS. This first fall event kicked off the season of giving for us. The CCTS received over new 100 toys and books and $20. We are truly grateful to the Moms Club for hosting this successful event and the generosity of all who came.
The economy has not ‘turned around? yet and we are expecting more children than last that will need our help. Donation boxes will go out the week of Thanksgiving or you can take toys to BF D Station #1 now in downtown Ortonville. Please give early and often. Our children in need really need your help. You can also send checks to the CCTS, P.O. Box 733, Ortonville, MI 48462.
Again, Moms Club and BFD – Thank You for all of your hard work and caring.
Betty Stewart, President
Community Christmas Toy Store

Ortonville- More than 100 area children may be dreaming of Santa this year while their heads rest on pillows and pillowcases that came from the Community Christmas Toy Store last year.
Brenda Heffernan, owner of Mabelena’s Quilting Supplies and Comforts, hopes that again this year, every local parent in need will be able to supply their child with a new pillow through CCTS.
‘My goal is for every child to get a pillow,? said Heffernan on Monday as she sewed in her shop located on Mill Street in the village. ‘It’s a great thing that they can have a fresh pillow every year. It’s wonderful that customers rally around this.?
For the past several years, Mabelena’s customers and other area residents have sewn colorful, child-friendly or holiday-themed pillowcases. They give the pillowcases and new pillows to CCTS, which assists low-income families in the Brandon School District in providing gifts for children.
‘If money is tight and you can only buy your child a toy or a pillow, parents will buy the toy, but it’s really nice to have a pillow, too,? said Heffernan.
Indeed, CCTS clients are often delighted to pick up a pillow in the cute cases when shopping for their child at the annual toy store.
Linda Mizejewski, president of the non-profit CCTS, is grateful for the time and efforts of the Mabelena’s customers, as well as groups like the Brandon Woodworkers Club, who make toy trucks and doll cradles for the toy store.
‘We are here to make sure no child is forgotten at Christmastime,? said Mizejewski. ‘It takes all of the local businesses, service organizations, schools, churches and individuals to make sure that happens. It’s a community effort. It’s not just monetary, it’s time and talent donated.?
CCTS plans to provide about 240 children, ages 12 and under, with gifts this year. Parents of these children will be able to select one large toy and three smaller toys, as well as a book and a board game, from the Community Christmas Toy Store, which will be set up on Dec. 14 at St. Anne Church, 825 S. Ortonville Road.
Donations of toys are accepted at businesses all over town, as well as at St. Anne and other area churches. To make a monetary donation, checks made payable to CCTS can be sent to P.O. Box 733, Ortonville, MI 48462.
Volunteers are needed for toy store set-up on Dec. 12-13 and for the Dec. 14 distribution. For more information on toy drop-off sites or to make an online donation, visit www.brandonccts.org or call 248-795-5281.
ACE Hardware, Anytime Fitness, Art of Life, Brandon Chiropractic Center, Brandon Fire Department 1, Brandon Township, Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School, Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Church of the Nazarene, The Citizen newspaper, Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union, Hamilton’s Feed, Hamilton’s Propane, Inc., Harvey-Swanson Elementary, Heaalth Care Solutions, Mabelena, MacPhee’s M-15 Urgent Care, Oakwood Elementary, Oxford Bank, Pet Supplies Plus, POH Regional Medical Center, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Real Estate One, Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, Something Different, TimPanNo Toy Store, Verizon Wireless, Village of Ortonville, Ortonville United Methodist Church and St. Anne Catholic Church.