Elizabeth Twp. girl launches toy drive

By Christine Haines

chaines@yourmvi.com

Counting Thanksgiving blessings has turned into blessing others at Christmas for one Elizabeth Township child.

Riley Harbaugh, 9, was reflecting on all her family had to be grateful for Thanksgiving Day when she realized there were families with so much less this year.

“I asked my mom how we could help this Christmas, and that’s when I said a toy drive,” Riley said. “I never did anything like this and I thought maybe with COVID-19 going on, I could help kids out.

“I was thinking how many toys me and my sisters have and some kids don’t have anything,” the Central Elementary School fourth-grader said.

Riley’s mother, Kate Harbaugh, said initially Riley wrapped a box and put it in front of their house for donated toys. In just a few days, neighbors had the box about half filled.

“That was our first hurdle. I didn’t want to put our address out. So we got a couple of places to put boxes,” Harbaugh said.

Collection boxes were placed Tuesday at Giant Eagle and the R.C. Walter & Sons hardware store, both in Elizabeth Township, and will be in place until Dec. 17.  

The following day, the toys will be delivered to Jamie’s Dream Team, a nonprofit organization based in McKeesport that focuses on lifting the spirits and easing the burden for people suffering from serious illness, injury, disability or trauma. Any new, unwrapped toy for children of any age will be accepted for the toy drive.

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