Graettinger: Sun City Posse appreciates toy drive support

"Thank you, Sun City, for making our ‘Mission of Joy’ toy drive for the children of Aguila such a huge success,” Rich Nonini, Sun City Posse commander, said.

Looking over the hundreds of toys that lined the wall and front entrance to the Posse’s auditorium, he smiled and said, “This is what Christmas is all about, the kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness of Sun City residents who understand the importance of making children smile this year.”

The toy drive for Aguila was started several years ago by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. This is the second year the Sun City Posse has supported their efforts  and this is the first year the Posse has opened the toy drive to the public.

What a response!

Since we announced the toy drive late last month, more than 600 toys were delivered to Posse headquarters from our Sun Citians and Posse members. They ranged in size from small dolls to plush-stuffed animals, from tiny trucks to huge tractor trailers, from scooters to little- people three wheelers.

The generosity continued to overflow as some of our residents even asked if the Posse needed help wrapping and delivering the toys to Aguila. The toys will be delivered by staff members from the MCSO and Posse just before Christmas.

It is no surprise that the toy drive garnered such a positive response. Sun City residents, like the rest of our nation, are exhausted with all of the restrictions imposed on us since COVID-19 became a daily discourse about how to live and how to defeat it.

Although we presently can’t change the dynamics of the pandemic, we can control our response to it and that is what this toy drive helped us do. On Christmas Day we can remember we brought pure joy and a huge sparkle to youngsters preschool to the eighth-grade. But just knowing that we made a difference this Christmas makes this holiday even more special.

Aguila is a small community with about 800 residents and is about 70 miles from us. Cantaloupe farming appears to be its main staple. The percentage of people living in poverty is more than 60 percent.

As Christmas quickly approaches, we who live in Sun City know that we are blessed. This year, we shared some of those blessing with youngsters we will never meet. Now, isn’t that the true meaning of what gift giving at Christmas is all about?

Editor’s Note: Diana Grattinger is Sun City Posse public information officer.