By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
For Addie Naus, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without collecting toys for kids in need.
For as long as the Bowling Green High School senior can remember her family has “adopted” a family in need through the Northwestern Ohio Salvation Army. Then she and her brother Mason would shop for bicycles, Legos, Barbies, and other toys for that family.
Last year, when her ag teacher Stephanie Conway challenged the BG FFA officers to take on a passion project, Naus knew just what her project would be — a toy collection.
“I’ve been so fortunate and blessed, but I know it’s a hard time for a lot of families,” she said. “I always want to make as many people as possible feel special. I want every family to have happy Christmas morning.”
Last year, the drive collected 450 toys to distribute through the Salvation Army.
Naus and her helpers have gotten boxes up throughout the Bowling Green City Schools for another collection that starts Monday in all the BG city schools as well as the administrative office downtown and the bus garage.
“I want every family to have happy Christmas morning.”
Addie Naus
The drive continues throughout the week.
“The goal for this year is to collect over 500,” Naus said.
The toys can be in any price range as long as they are new. “It can be anything,” she said.
Naus has had a lot of help organizing the drive.Her peers also enjoy helping others through the drive, she said.
The high school DECA members made posters and assisted with marketing. That helped “turn this idea into a really big event at our school,” Naus said.
Her fellow FFA members built the boxes and placed them in all the district’s buildings.
On Friday, students will load the toys onto a school bus and haul them to the Woodland Mall where they will be delivered as part of Channel 13abc’s Hope for the Holidays Drive.
Naus said she expects the toys go to local families.
Naus hopes that other students will pick up the effort once she graduates. Students have already approached her about the details of what it takes to run the drive. Her brother will be a freshman next year, and he may want to be involved.
Naus is headed to Wilmington College in southwestern Ohio to study agriculture business. She will also run track and cross country for the Fightin’ Quakers.
She hopes to continue her holiday toy collection tradition in Wilmington.
Haus said she expects she will always find a way to play Santa for those in need at the holidays. “I will always do something.”
