Toy drive to stock 'Christmas Store' for low-income families
'Breakfast with Santa' allows children to be involved in giving

Sister Kathleen Driscoll, left, and Ms. Dot Teso are coordinating the Catholic Charities Christmas Toy Drive. New toys can be dropped off at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup Catholic Charities, St. Francis of Assisi and the Catholic People's Foundation. The toys will be sold to disadvantaged families at a greatly reduced price at Gallup Catholic Charities new Christmas Store. Money from the sale of the toys will go to help disadvantaged families as well. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

GALLUP — It's not just Santa Claus coming to town this year.

A new Christmas toy drive is coming to town, courtesy of two women new to the Gallup community.

Dot Teso and Sister Kathleen Driscoll are organizing a Christmas Toy Drive and a Breakfast with Santa to help fill a "Christmas Store" with toys enabling low income parents to shop for their children this Christmas.

Teso is the new executive director of the Catholic People's Foundation for the Diocese of Gallup. Driscoll is the new executive director of the local Catholic Charities. Teso has had experience organizing a similar program in Indiana, and Driscoll has experience in South Carolina.

There are two ways to donate toys to the Christmas Toy Drive. One is the short but sweet method of simply dropping off a new toy at one of four locations in Gallup. The other is geared toward parents or grandparents who would like to involve their child or grandchild in the giving process by having the child bring a new toy donation to the free Breakfast with Santa celebration on Saturday, Dec. 10.

All the donated toys will then be used to stock the Christmas Store, which will be located next door to the Catholic Charities Thrift Store. The "store" will be open from Dec. 13-16 for qualifying low income families. Parents can purchase the toys at significantly reduced prices.

This kind of toy drive is different from others, explained Driscoll, because it's not simply a hand-out program. Even though the toy prices are reduced, she said, parents do have to pay for them, which she believes supports their sense of pride as parents.

"You actually get to pick out what your child would like," added Teso.

Money generated from sales at the Christmas Store will then be used to assist low income families with utility payments, rent, medical bills, and groceries.

"Anyone who gives a toy is giving a double gift," explained Driscoll.

Teso and Driscoll said only low income parents will be allowed to shop in the Christmas Store. If families have a history of receiving some sort of assistance from Catholic Charities in Gallup, Driscoll explained, they will not have to show any kind of proof of their income. However, she said, other parents interested in shopping at the Christmas Store will need to offer proof that they qualify.

For community members who would like to donate new toys to the Christmas Toy Drive, the drop-off locations are: Sacred Heart Cathedral, 415 E. Green; St. Francis of Assisi Church, 411 N. Second St.; Gallup Catholic Charities, 506 W. Historic Route 66; and the Catholic Peoples Foundation, 711 S. Puerco. The drop-off deadline is Saturday, Dec. 10.

According to Teso, families must make a reservation to attend the Breakfast with Santa, which will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Catholic Indian Center, 506 W. Historic Route 66. Admission is at least one new, quality toy per family. That admission provides a free breakfast for the family members and games and crafts for attending children. Santa Claus will be on hand, and parents can pay a small fee for a photo of their child with Santa.

Teso believes that children will not only enjoy the breakfast activities, they will actively learn about giving by making a toy donation at the event. In addition, older children from Gallup's Catholic schools will be helping to serve the breakfast and run the game and crafts stations.

"It's a good experience for everybody," said Teso.

Although the Diocese of Gallup covers much of northern Arizona and western New Mexico, the Catholic Charities Christmas Toy Drive will be limited to just Gallup this year. If the toy drive is successful, Teso and Driscoll said they will look at expanding it beyond Gallup next year.