Last day to donate to Not-Forgotten Box toy, food drive is Friday

MEDINA — Community members only have one day left to donate to the Not-Forgotten Box toy and food drive, which supports residents in need during the holiday season. Each year, the Medina Gazette holds the toy and food drive in partnership with the Medina Salvation Army to help people throughout the county during the holiday season. This year's drive ran for two weeks on Mondays and Fridays. Community members have only Friday left to donate nonperishable food and new, unwrapped toys to the drive. So far, about 47 people donated, resulting in: 384 toys. 249 food items. 83 articles of clothing. 28 miscellaneous items. $955 in monetary donations. In 2024, the Medina Salvation Army served just under 700 children. Previously, the Medina Salvation Army served 612 children in the county in 2023 and about 300 children in 2022. This year, Medina Salvation Army Capt. Tracy Knappins has 797 children on her Christmas list. "The needs are great in our community, and families who have never asked for help before are finding themselves just needing that little extra help at the holiday time," Knappins previously said. The Medina Salvation Army serves children 18 and younger, so it needs a wide variety of items to give to the kids. Donations are accepted from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday in The Gazette's lobby at 885 W. Liberty St. in Medina. Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.