St. Vincent de Paul hosts Christmas Toys for Tots giveaway

MARQUETTE — Christmas is just around the corner and many are trying to fit in their last minute shopping.

St. Vincent de Paul of Marquette hosted a Christmas Toys for Tots giveaway on Thursday at the Westwood Mall. Families that are eligible for the organization’s food pantry were able to come and pick out presents for their children. Toys, school supplies, winter gear and clothing were separated by age group to make the shopping experience easier.

This event wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers, who were filled with Christmas spirit.

“I feel like a five year-old kid right now, just because the parents are shopping right now and you know who they’re shopping for. You know the age group, you know if it’s a girl or a boy and you can almost put yourself in their living room that morning, opening that and just seeing the joy, and where otherwise they probably wouldn’t have anything,” said Denise Arbellius, the store manager of St. Vincent de Paul in Marquette.

The giveaway also would not have happened without the donations from the community to Toys for Tots. Although she doesn’t have an official amount, Arbellius said this year’s donations surpassed last year’s.