Granddaughter urges Joe Eori to donate $1,000 for toy drive

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Mia Strickler of Collinsburg, Rostraver Township, believes giving is better than receiving. 

But she also knows just how much joy children get out of waking on Dec. 25 to find gifts under the tree from Santa Claus.

That’s why she did her part to make sure kids of Rostraver Township families have gifts on Christmas morning.

While helping her grandfather Joe Eori, owner of Big’s Sanitation of Rostraver Township, pass out treat bags from the trash and recycling company at the Rostraver Township Drive-Thru Christmas Celebration at the John DiVirgilio Sports Complex, Mia got curious about why patrons of the event were dropping off unwrapped toys.

“We donated 250 treat bags for the Christmas event Rostraver had last Sunday,” Eori said. “My granddaughter came and she was giving out treat bags.  There was a van parked on the corner and she said ‘Pap, why are people putting gifts in that van?’”

Thinking quickly, Eori explained to his granddaughter that Santa and the elves at the North Pole are also doing their best to adhere to coronavirus pandemic restrictions. He told her the man in the red suit put out a call to grown-ups that he might need help making sure all children receive a Christmas gift this year.

“Those toys will be distributed to kids Santa can’t make it to this year,” Eori told young Mia.

“She was under the impression that Santa can’t get to everybody this year because of everything that is going on,” Eori said.

Throughout the event, when she wasn’t greeting and handing treat bags to those driving through the event, Mia kept her eyes on the van.

“Hey Pap, there’s not a lot of toys in that van for those kids,” she said to Eori at one point. “How about we buy gifts for those kids that Santa can’t make it to this year?”

She then asked her Pap to donate $1,000 to help buy gifts for the toy drive.

“I think Santa would like it if we did that,” she told her grandfather.

“She’s 6 and it was her own idea,” Eori said of Mia. “She still believes 100% and I want it to stay that way.”

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