Photo by Gage Vota American Electric Power transmission field serviceman John Rozenek makes sure Santa is safe and secure before going up in the hydraulic lift at Operation Toy Lift.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – For the ninth straight year, the Wheeling Police Department and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department teamed up with the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley for “Operation Toy Lift.”

The event was created by Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger in hopes of bringing cheer to Ohio Valley children who are at risk of receiving Christmas presents.

“We work with United Way, once we collect the toys, United Way will distribute the toys to the kids,” Schwertfeger said.

United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley Executive Director Staci Stephen added that once the collections are received by the local law enforcement, they will be given to United Way who will set up a temporary pop-up shop where various 501c3 organizations in the Ohio Valley can shop and get all of the toys the children need.

“We set up a makeshift store where any 501c3s in the Ohio Valley can make an appointment to come shop for their clients. We also get a lot of requests from the community of people that may need a little extra help this year,” Stephen said. “We try to make sure that no kids will go without any toys.”

She added that “Operation Toy Lift” is her favorite event of the year because she gets a lot of requests for items that residents need.

“Sometimes it’s for personal hygiene items, bedding or maybe just a shirt that has their school’s logo on it. It’s things that typically a kid shouldn’t have to ask for,” Stephen said. “We’re so happy to be able to do this and not only give them the stuff that they need, but also a couple of things that they may not ask for. It’s Christmas, kids want to have toys for Christmas.”

She added that she believes that it’s important that Operation Toy Lift continues year after year, and is thankful to everybody that participates to make the event possible.

The event took place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Ohio Valley Mall in the Ulta parking lot.

Located in the parking lot were two hydraulic lifts provided by American Electric Power where various local celebrities would go to wave to passing traffic in hopes of getting the drivers attention.

Santa was in one of the lifts while Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli was in the second lift.

Mark Zyla with the Wheeling Symphony; Robert Thomas, Thomas Jeep Eagle; Annalese Murphy, WTRF; Tim Hall, Cumberland Trail Fire Department; Romeo Tan, West Virginia First Foundation; Jack Gilman, North Star Polaris; Wheeling Fire Department Chief Jim Blazier, St. Clairsville Police Chief Matt Arbenz, Wheeling City Council member Connie Cain; Rachel Dietrich, Belmont Savings Bank; Howard Karnell, WesBanco Arena; Corie Trigg, Belmont Savings Bank, Deputy Chief Terry Walls, Wheeling Police Department, Steven Moore, WTRF, members of the Wheeling Nailers, Sam from the Sam and Otis Show, Belmont County Chief Deputy Glenn Moore, and Louie the Lightning Bug, AEP, and Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack also went up in the two lifts.

Zusack said that the event is incredibly important because it provides gifts for kids who may not receive any gifts.

“It’s a heartwarming day, just to see all of these people come and donate the toys,” he said.

Schwertfeger added that each year the event gets bigger and bigger.

“I was just thinking earlier, and am going to have a chat with Sheriff Zusack, this next year will be our 10th, so we’re going to have to do something special,” Schwertfeger said.

In addition to gifts, monetary donations were also accepted by cash or check.