MEDINA — The first Wednesday of every November is a red barrel day for Medina firefighters and Medina Area Association of Churches.
That is the day each year when Medina firefighters pick up the MAAC Christmas barrels and deliver them to stores, churches, and organizations in Medina. This year, 40 barrels were delivered, waiting to be filled with gifts, crafts, games, books, toys, hats, mittens and non-perishable food which MAAC will use to pack Christmas boxes for several hundred families.
Cash donations are also welcome, and are used to purchase items needed to insure every child gets a gift.
To be eligible to receive a gift box, families must live in the Medina School District with a zip code of 14103 or 14479.
The Christmas Present Program serves children up to 18 years of age and their parents, according to Sherry Tuohey-Sipple, who has headed the give-away for seven years.
Families must sign up during the second and third weeks of November, either from 10 a.m. to noon or 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave.; or from 10 a.m. Thursday at The Vine (formerly Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God), 11031 Maple Ridge Road.
The Red Barrels, which have come to be known as the Christmas Present Program, stem from Christmas toy drives the Medina firefighters started decades ago. After MAAC took it over, Sylvia Riviere of Medina ran it for seven years, before Tuohey-Sipple stepped up to run it.
Bob Harrold of Lyndonville has been contributing to the MAAC Christmas Present Program for many years, searching for and refurbishing little red wagons, which he donates to the program. He said this year it is getting harder and harder to find them.
He told Tuohey-Sipple he had been doing this for many years, at least 15, during which time he has donated more than 75 red wagons to be given to the less fortunate children of Medina during the Christmas season.
Throughout his lifetime, Harrold said he has collected and refurbished more than 300 red wagons, which he has given away.
“They are much harder to find today, but I continue to look for them in my travels,” he said.
Tuohey-Sipple said she has already been receiving requests for Christmas boxes, much earlier than in the past. She is concerned this may mean there is a greater need in the community this year.
Firefighters say they volunteer to help with the program because they want to help those in need.
“That’s our personality, off duty as well as on duty,” said Lt. Steve Cooley, who on Wednesday morning showed up with fellow firefighters Steve Miller and Nick Lee, all of whom had worked all night.
Fire Chief Matt Jackson said they support the giveaway program because it is important for their team to come together to bring some cheer to those less fortunate.
The filled barrels will be picked by on Dec. 4, and on Dec. 14, Medina firefighters will be joined by volunteer firefighters from Ridgeway, Shelby and East Shelby to deliver the filled Christmas boxes.