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The Salvation Army's Wheeling office will take a new role for a while Monday. It will become a toy shop, allowing those in need who haven't already been helped by the Salvation Army to pick up some gifts for their kids for this Christmas.
Salvation Army Lt. John Lawrence said that, following a successful group of Angel Tree distributions in Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler counties, there were some toys and clothes that were still available for children who needed them.
The decision to pop up a toy shop at the Wheeling office at 3333 Eoff Street became an easy one, he said.
"It was just an issue where we got such a blessing from our neighbors," he said. "And we wanted to make sure those blessings were passed on."
The toy shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the latest or for as long as the supplies last. Lawrence said people will be able to go in one at a time and pick up four toys and one outfit for each of their children. The only requirement is a photo ID to verify the family has not already received assistance from the Salvation Army.
"We don't have as many clothes as we do toys," Lawrence said, "so those are probably going to run out quicker, but it's an opportunity to get that little bit that they may not already have."
Both the Angel Tree program, where people select a child's wish list and purchases the items on it, and the ability to create that one-day toy shop are prime examples of the generosity of those around the Ohio Valley, Lawrence said.
"It shows how much our neighbors support and appreciate the work that we're doing here and how much they want to help their fellow neighbors," he said. "So this is an opportunity that we have and we want to make sure that every child gets the opportunity to have that special Christmas.