Enthusiasm, toy donations, greet mini railcars on Toys for Tots trek

Children from families in need were the big winners Saturday when hundreds of unwrapped toys were collected during the Westmoreland County Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots’ annual mini-railcar caravan at stops in Mt. Pleasant, Scottdale, Tarrs, Ruffs Dale, Hunker, Youngwood and Hempfield.

Among the hundreds who donated toys where the 19 mini-railcars from the North American Rail Car Operators Association stopped during the 17-mile route on the Southwestern Pennsylvania Railroad line was 3-year-old Luella Hagerman of Scottdale, daughter of Amanda Hagerman of Scottdale.

“We think it is a great way to donate toys to the children. It is a great way to start the holiday,” said Amanda Hagerman, who said her daughter selected a mini-cleaning set for a young girl and a tractor for a young boy.

Five-year-old David McElfresh, who was with his father, Justin McElfresh of the Everson area in Fayette County, climbed aboard one of the railcars and sat in the operator’s seat.

“We wanted to drop off toys for the children, and he wanted to see Santa,” Justin McElfresh said. A couple dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were among the railcar operators.

Organizers of the initiative in Westmoreland County anticipate they will be able to provide more children with toys this holiday season than last year, when Christmas for 2,460 students was brightened by their efforts, said Dennis Blank, chairperson for the county Toys for Tots, which started in 1995.

Through the total campaign, with collection boxes at stores and other sites, about 29,320 toys were collected last year, according to the county Toys for Tots website.

“It looks like we will did better than last year,” Blank said, adding they will have a final count of the donated toys by the middle of next week.

Doug Hurst, coordinator for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign in Westmoreland County, said he was very pleased with the turnout at the various stops, which he observed was better than last year.

At Hunker, Katie Miller brought her daughter, Sarah, 3, to donate toys. They were among a few hundred waiting for the mini railcars.

“It’s a little community gathering,” Miller said of the turnout. It was organized by the Hunker Civic Association.

Another youngster who was happy to be climbing into the railcars was Izaac Garland of Ruffsdale, the son of Kelly and Brandon Garland of Ruffs Dale, who donated puzzles and figurines.

“We’ve been coming down to see the railcars for a couple of years,” Kelly Garland.

At Youngwood, Ashley Devitt of Latrobe, brought her 3-year-old son, Tanner.

“He loves the trains,” said Devitt, who was with her son’s babysitters, Rich and Mary Grace Wigfield of Greensburg.

Railcar enthusiasts from the Midwest and South participated in the railcar caravan for a good cause, said John Gonder of Ruffs Dale, organizer of the local railcar effort, which has been ongoing the past seven years.

Some of the operators were dressed in seasonal clothing, including Gary Smith of Hackettstown, N.J., who was dressed as an elf, handing out candy to kids.

“Every year, it’s getting bigger and bigger. The kids really react to it,” Gonder said.

The toys are to be distributed about a week before Christmas. Registration will open soon at the jeannette-pa.toysfortots.org website.