Stuff a Race Car Trailer toy drive returns for second year

By LIAM BELAN
lbelan@yourmvi.com
After a successful toy drive last year, Hoods Up Quick Lube will partner with Koteles Racing and the Christmas for Kids Organization to hold the second Stuff a Race Car Trailer gift fundraiser for local children in need.
A race car trailer is set up at the Hoods Up Quick Lube at 1640 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon (Rostraver Township), that will collect toy donations, but there’s even more ways to give back this year. Two other Hoods Up locations, one at 2869 Washington Road, Canonsburg, and another at 1304 Country Club Road, Carroll Township, are also accepting drop off toy donations as well.
All donations will be distributed to local children through the Christmas for Kids Organization.
“Every single year, there’s more and more children that put a jacket, socks, shoes or those types of things on their Christmas lists,” said Shannon Johnson with the Christmas for Kids organization. “They don’t really put a lot of toys down because they need the bare necessities to get by, so being that last year the entire race car trailer was filled up, we were able to help well over 100 children with clothes and toys.
“Doing these other two locations, hopefully we can even double those numbers this year.”
The Koteles family is thrilled to use its businesses to hold the fundraiser once again and benefit those in need. The partnership with Johnson came about after they assisted with Christmas For Kids organization fundraisers in the past.
Johnson said that she and her sisters, Tessa and Sierra Thorne, will help in the process as well after watching their late grandfather, Donald Thorne, do similar work in the community with Toys for Tots. Her husband, Chad Johnson, is also heavily involved with some of his friends, as well as her friend, Lindsay Scrip, and many members of the Stockdale, Allenport and Roscoe communities.
“Growing up, my sisters and I were exposed to it because our grandfather was involved in Toys for Tots,” Johnson said. “We were always invested in that, and after he passed away I decided to keep on doing it, whether it was with Toys for Tots or I did little things on my own. My sisters are really into it too, so it’s a passion for us to be able to give back and have my pap’s tradition live on.”
Everyone involved in the drive is excited for this year’s turn out, and they thank each and every person that lends a helping hand in spreading holiday cheer.
“There’s so much going on now, so it’s crazy to see how many people want to come out and support every year,” Johnson said. “It’s appreciated by all of us, because it’s not just me, it’s like a whole army that does this.”
“I live for this,” Johnson said. “My husband knows that from September until after Christmas, it’s just all I do and he’s supportive of it, and it’s the same with Lindsay. I get very excited every year, especially when people reach out to me ahead of time each year. It’s truly amazing. But it’s not just me to take the credit, it’s everyone in the community that makes this successful.”