State police begins annual holiday campaign
Cpl. Joe D’Andrea said it’s difficult to tell who gets more enjoyment from the “Gifts for Kids” program – the kids or the state police. “The kids are so grateful for anything you do. They’re so pleased to get anything,” D’Andrea, of the state police barracks in Uniontown, said.
“They get to see us in a different light. That’s the biggest reward. They’ll come up to you and give you hugs. Once you’re in, you’re in. It keeps you coming back.”
This year’s goal is to match last year’s accomplishment of giving gifts and more than 30 bicycles to 6,500 underprivileged Fayette County children in kindergarten through third grade for Christmas.
Each elementary school will receive a bike and a helmet, and school officials will select a deserving student who doesn’t have his or her bike to become proud new owners.
D’Andrea, Trooper William Shiley, police communications officer Julie Sutton and clerk Victoria Weigthman have been running the program since 1997.
Trooper Robert “Botch” Frider started the program in Fayette County in the early 1980s. With assistance from Trooper Michael Cellurale, they distributed 300 to 500 toys a year in the Markleysburg area.
After Frider retired, Sgt. John Arminas took the reins and distributed 300 to 500 toys and reconditioned bikes per year to George J. Plava Elementary School in the Albert Gallatin Area School District.
The current group took over after Arminas died in a traffic accident in 1997.
That year they had two distribution points and gave toys to 1,300 children, but later learned that the most needy kids did not get toys due to a lack of transportation.
They returned to the schools in 1998, when they went to all 32 elementary schools in the county and gave out 2,700 toys.
In 1999, 5,000 toys and bikes were given out. In 2000 and 2001, toys and more than 30 bikes were distributed to 6,500 children.
D’Andrea said anybody who wants to donate gifts or money to buy gifts should take their contributions to the barracks or call at 724-439-7111. He said checks should be made payable to “Gifts for Kids.”
He said they have already received three $1,000 donations and there is no deadline. Any donations given too late for this Christmas will be used the following year, noting that all gifts are purchased in the county.
“There are a lot of generous people in the county that don’t want recognized,” D’Andrea said.
He also said most of the donated bikes are 20-inch models and the larger 24- and 26-inch bikes will go to older students.