Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Christmas Toy Store

  • 23rd Annual Christmas Toy Store Program begins collecting gifts

    23rd Annual Christmas Toy Store Program begins collecting gifts

    by Terri Rogers

    Like most adults, thoughts of the holiday season bring images of spending time with family and friends to mind. If you ask a child to describe the holidays you will hear many talk about family and friends, but you will always hear every child mention presents. As adults we know the true meaning of the holidays. We know it is a time to celebrate family, faith, and friends. To children it is a time for decorations, songs, and gifts.            

    While the holiday may not be about gifts, the Loveland Initiative Christmas Toy Store is about more than just Barbie, G.I. Joe, and games. The program was established to operate, not only so that low income residents could provide education dollars to those that have the most difficulty affording educational opportunities beyond high school, but also so that the moms and dads who shop at our Toy Store have a sense of dignity that they are “buying” the gifts for their children and grandchildren, not receiving a hand out, and so are contributing to something greater than ourselves. 

    The Loveland Initiative Christmas Toy Store may seem like it is focused on presents, but the proceeds provide funds for scholarships to students within the Loveland community. The Tracy Johnson L. Scholarship awards one thousand five hundred dollars to a student with financial need in Loveland. To date we have awarded 22 college scholarships to Loveland High School graduates. Now that sounds like the true holiday spirit to me!  

    The 23rd Annual Christmas Toy Store’s location and date is still to be determined.  Please check out our website, lovelandinitiative.org, for more information about us.  Also, “like” our Facebook page to stay up to date!  There is a wonderful video from WLWT on the page from the 2017 Christmas Toy Store.  Check it out to see what the Christmas Toy Store is all about. 

    We will be accepting donations of NEW, UNWRAPPED toys and gifts for children, pre-teens and teens. (See attached suggested gift list). Gift cards and monetary donations are also greatly appreciated.

    Please drop off donations at Marcos Pizza 920 Loveland Madeira Rd Sunday – Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday – Saturday 11am to 12 midnight. We can also make arrangements to pick up gifts. 

    In addition to gifts, we always need volunteers for pick-up, displays and transportation.  We are confident that our community will once again pull together to help the children and the families in Loveland.  

    Please feel free to contact Project Leaders Mary Hensley mhnsly@yahoo.com or the Executive Director Terri Rogers 513-739-2354/ trogers7@fuse.net with any questions or concerns.  

    Thank you in advance for your help!

    Terri Rogers is the Executive Director of The Loveland Initiative

    Download this printable Shopping List:

    2020-CTS-Suggested-Gift-ListDownload
  • Congratulations Keller Walls

    Congratulations Keller Walls

    by Terri Rogers,

    In honor of Tracy’s strength and courage and her lifelong desire to go to college, the Loveland Initiative Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship Committee has selected Loveland High School graduate Keller Walls to receive a $1,500 scholarship. She has demonstrated a strong interest towards education and in serving her community. Keller was acknowledged for receiving the scholarship in a video presentation during the LHS Senior Awards Ceremony on May 13, 2020. Keller will be attending Ohio State University, majoring in journalism or education. 

    Congratulations Keller on your achievements and best wishes for continued success in your college career and beyond!

    The Loveland Initiative has awarded 23 college scholarships to high-school graduates living in the Loveland City School District, due to the success of the Christmas Toy Store program. Thank you to our wonderful and generous supporters. We are SO PROUD of our AWESOME community we live in and look forward to a continuing partnership with you.

    Terri Rogers is the Executive Director of the Loveland Initiative

  • The Loveland Initiative says thank you for supporting their Toy Store program

    The Loveland Initiative says thank you for supporting their Toy Store program

    by Terri Rogers

    WOW! Another HUGE success!! On December 19, 2019, the Loveland Initiative held its 22nd Annual Christmas Toy Store program. The program served well over 250 children. This would not have happened if not for all of YOU our wonderful and generous supporters. The Tracy Johnson Scholarship awards one thousand five hundred dollars to a student with financial need in Loveland.

    Terri Rogers is the Executive Director of The Loveland Initiative

    We are SO PROUD of the AWESOME community we live in. Loveland is very generous by providing support to underserved families, with amazing toys for children. What joy it is for these families to go shopping and pick out toys they want to give. Our families look forward to this and as one mom said while shopping “This program is a blessing.”

    Leaving with those bags of gifts for their children they love is a blessing. You can tell by looking at their faces. They are so proud of what they have chosen for their children. What a gift this community gives them! Encouraging them to make choices and get nice things for the ones they love. Priceless! The toys they choose from are endless, all donated and collected each year for these families to pick from.

    Each year that I attend the Christmas Toy Store program, I am amazed at the amount of time and energy that my two leads; Mary Hensley and Shionee Blust Sergist put into this program is inspiring. A HUGE thank you to Mary and Shionee for their hard work, and to our board members for volunteering their time with the program is so very much appreciated. As always, there are more volunteers involved and you can see the joy they have helping families knowing that they are making a difference. A HUGE thank you to all of our volunteers. YOU ARE AMAZING!!

    A HUGE thank you to the Loveland Moose Lodge for hosting us for the seventh year in a row. A SPECIAL thank you to Bond Furniture & Design for lending their location as a drop off spot. A HUGE thank you to Loveland City Schools, Loveland Board Office, Loveland Transportation, LES Compassion project, LHS Senior Service Members and the staff, students and their families, for donating monetary funds, toys and gifts. Words cannot express how helpful this was to us! A VERY HUGE thank you to ALL of our other donors for helping us make Loveland children’s Christmas brighter. A SPECIAL thank you to Loveland Magazine for their promotional support. Thank you so very much for your support and for giving back to the Loveland community!

    I am so grateful to be a part of this giving and caring community. Thank you all for everything you do for the families in Loveland! We look forward to a continuing partnership with you.

  • Congratulations Maria Reich, 2019 recipient of the Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship

    Congratulations Maria Reich, 2019 recipient of the Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Initiative has awarded 22 college scholarships to high-school graduates living in the Loveland City School District over the years. Due to the success of the Christmas Toy Store last year, the Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship committee selected Maria Reich to receive the $1,500 scholarship. The Loveland Initiative celebrates her outstanding community service and academic excellence. She was presented with a certificate at the Loveland High School academic awards night on May 15.

    The scholarship fund is in the memory of Tracy L. Johnson, a past resident of Westover Village. Tracy was a young, talented woman who died from Muscular Dystrophy before realizing her dream to finish college.

    Learn more about the Loveland Initiative HERE.

     

    Loveland Magazine is a sponsor of the Christmas Toy Store and the Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship.

     

  • 22nd Annual Christmas Toy Store: Donations now being accepted

    22nd Annual Christmas Toy Store: Donations now being accepted

    Promoted Story

    Like most adults, thoughts of the holiday season bring images of spending time with family and friends to mind. If you ask a child to describe the holidays you will hear many talk about family and friends, but you will always hear every child mention presents. As adults we know the true meaning of the holidays. We know it is a time to celebrate family, faith, and friends. To children it is a time for decorations, songs, and gifts.            

    So that the moms and dads who shop at our Toy Store have a sense of dignity that they are “buying” the gifts for their children and grandchildren, not receiving a hand out.

    While the holiday may not be about gifts, the Loveland Initiative Christmas Toy Store is about more than just Barbie, G.I. Joe, and games. The program was established to operate, not only so that low income residents could provide education dollars to those that have the most difficulty affording educational opportunities beyond high school, but also so that the moms and dads who shop at our Toy Store have a sense of dignity that they are “buying” the gifts for their children and grandchildren, not receiving a hand out, and so are contributing to something greater than ourselves. 

    The Tracy Johnson Scholarship awards one thousand five hundred dollars to a student with financial need in Loveland.

    The Loveland Initiative Christmas Toy Store may seem like it is focused on presents, but the proceeds provide funds for scholarships to students within the Loveland community. The Tracy Johnson Scholarship awards one thousand five hundred dollars to a student with financial need in Loveland. Now that sounds like the true holiday spirit to me!  

    The 22nd Annual Christmas Toy Store’s location is still to be determined but the date for the event is December 14, 2018.  Please check out our website, lovelandinitiative.org,  for more information about us.  Also, “like” our Facebook page to stay up to date!  There is a wonderful video from WLWT on the page from the 2017 Christmas Toy Store. Check it out to see what the Christmas Toy Store is all about. 

    We will be accepting donations of NEW, UNWRAPPED toys and gifts for children, pre-teens and teens. (See suggested gift list below). Gift cards and monetary donations are also greatly appreciated.

    Please drop off donations to any of the Loveland School District buildings during school hours November 1 – December 10.  We can also make arrangements to pick up gifts. 

    We are confident that our community will once again pull together to help the children and the families in Loveland.

    In addition to gifts, we always need volunteers for pick-up, displays and transportation. We are confident that our community will once again pull together to help the children and the families in Loveland.  

    Please feel free to contact Project Leaders Mary Hensley mhnsly@yahoo.com or Shionee Blust johnshionee@gmail.com or the Executive Director Terri Rogers 513-739-2354/ trogers7@fuse.net with any questions or concerns. 

    Thank you in advance for your help!

    Loveland Magazine is a Sponsor of the 22nd Annual Christmas Toy Store

  • Apply now for the Tracy L. Johnson education scholarship

    Apply now for the Tracy L. Johnson education scholarship

    Our Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship is funded by money raised during our annual “Christmas Toy Store” event. The Scholarship places emphasis on financial need, community service, and academic achievement. Please visit our website for more information and to download an application.

    More Info & Application

     

    Over the years, The Loveland Initiative has awarded over twenty college scholarships to high-school graduates living in the Loveland City School District. We created our scholarship fund in the memory of Tracy L Johnson, a past resident of Westover Village. Tracy was a young, talented woman who died from Muscular Dystrophy before realizing her dream to finish college.

    We are giving out (1) $1,500 scholarship to a deserving individual.

    Scholarship Application & Eligibility Requirements 

     

  • #GivingTuesday – Help The Loveland Initiative continue their mission

    #GivingTuesday – Help The Loveland Initiative continue their mission

    by Terri Rogers,

    #GivingTuesday is right around the corner, November 28. It’s a global day of giving and a day when you can make an impact on low-income children and families in Loveland.

    The need in our community is real. Loveland has nearly 1,000 residents classified as low to moderate income. We are helping bridge the gap for local children and families in need.

    Our Impact:

    Backpack Program – 300 children and their families served annually

    Christmas Toy Store – 250 children and their families served annually

    Tracy L. Johnson Scholarship – 19 scholarships awarded to date

     

    YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER 28, YOU CAN GIVE TODAY!

    There’s no need to wait, you can make a secure donation today via credit card or PayPal, on our website at www.lovelandinitiative.org/giving-tuesday/. 

    You can also send a check:

    The Loveland Initiative • 901 Mohican Drive • Loveland, OH 45140

    No amount is too small to help those in need. Thank you in advance for your support!

    Special Thanks to our campaign sponsor, Fully Promoted Cincinnati.

     

    Thank you to Loveland Magazine for their continued promotional support.

     

    The Loveland Initiative is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and has been in the community for over 20 years. We are dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in Loveland. Our programs help lower income residents meet basic needs along with educational enrichment. We are a need based, all volunteer, mission focused, and community based organization. If you would like more information about The Loveland Initiative or its programs, please visit our website at www.lovelandinitiative.org or contact Terri Rogers, Executive Director at 513-739-2354 or trogers7@fuse.net.