Jack Wolf said he and his wife decided to help out less-fortunate kids he came to know through volunteer work at Amanda Elementary School.
“You work with kids who are so full of excitement, joy and happiness yet don’t have anything and it starts to put everything into perspective,” Wolf said. “My wife and I have been rather fortunate this year and thought we’d try to give a little back.”
Roberta Baker, store secretary with the Middletown Meijer, has been coordinating the program alongside police for nearly a decade.
When donations were coming up short for this year’s outing, Baker said Meijer decided to step up and donate $3,900. That’s around $900 more than the store has traditionally put into the program, but Baker said it’s well worth it.
“It’s just the joy of the kids, seeing them running around and getting excited,” Baker said. “I get the biggest kick out of it.”
While most of the kids buy toys and games for themselves, Baker said there are a few who will pick up gifts for their parents or siblings. One child took the $100 and used it to buy groceries for his entire family.
“He was like, ‘we’re going to have us a Christmas dinner,’ ” Baker said, choking up. “It absolutely broke my heart.”
As for the kids themselves, they agreed the experience was a great way to spend a Saturday morning.
Aaron Campero, 12, said he enjoyed himself and thought it was “nice how people are giving out $100 for Christmas.”
“I think it’s great because it can help people out,” said 11-year-old Joleen Ocampo.
Donors included the American Legion, Fraternal Order of Police, Meijer, Bob Evans, Jack Wolf, AIM Inc., Fraternal Order of Eagles, Fraternal Order of Orioles, Paychex and an additional anonymous donor.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or rgauthier@coxohio.com.
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