Pictured (left to right) are W. Steven Martin and Pam Tiffany.
Gail Schroeder
The Dec. 14 monthly meeting was very special for the Niners. They presented W. Steven Martin with lots of gifts for his non-profit charity. The W. Steven Martin 911 Toy Drive serves law enforcement, fire, public safety officials, and corrections officers. Gifts are provided throughout the year, not just at Christmas, to improve the way children in need or danger see the men and women in uniform. Steven said the largest need is always gifts for teen and pre-teen boys and girls. This age group is most vulnerable to crime, unrest, and gang activity. A police officer at their door with gifts and personal items is an incredible and lifelong positive image that those in need never forget! Steven shares the gifts he collects with community departments who help families in crisis. Their recipients are selected by public safety personnel based upon direct encounters where needs are discovered. They have provided over six million gifts to over one million children to date.
The 911 Toy Drive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has no payroll expenses. They are all volunteers. You can read more about the foundation and make donations at www.911toydrive.com/programs/911-toy-drive.
Steven shared a story of three girls whose family had lost their entire home and everything in it to a fire this week. They will be some of the many recipients of the gifts he collects. He ended his talk by saying that Christmas and Jesus would always be in his heart.
After that emotional story, which Steven tells so well, we continued with the meeting and later adjourned to the Horizon Room for our December luncheon, which was hosted by Vivian Adams and Barb Edwards. The tables were festive with Christmas tablecloths and decorations. The French dip, potato salad and chocolate cake were terrific. The only complaint I heard was that it was too much. I think that is a pretty good complaint to have.