INFORMATION ON CHRISTMAS 2026 TOY SHOP – COMING SOON
TOY SHOP 2025 – THANK YOU!
Thank You to everyone who participated in our Christmas Together Toy Drive and Toy Shop this year! It was a huge success with over 450 kids receiving toys this Christmas thanks to your generosity. Many lives were touched by your participation, so for giving of your time, talent, and/or treasure.
Special thanks to…
Elder families, students, teachers, staff, and friends of Elder who donated toys and other gifts to the Toy Shop- The Class of 1969, Mark Witte, Amy Williams, Will Groneman, Rachel Callif, Freidoon Ghazi, Paige Debuys, Vicki Frazier-Fuchs for their monetary gifts
- Mr. Pete Witte ’86 for hosting the Price Hill Christmas gathering once again this year
- Mrs. Mary Kay Gilbert for donating toys again this year…as she has done every year since 1986!
- Mr. Jesse Armstrong and Jessica of the Nutrition Group for collecting and donating toys
- Mrs. Shirley Kathman and Mrs. Tammy Sheridan for donating 10 boxes of toy, shoes, and clothes
- Mr. and Mrs. Zureick who donated many basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, and baseballs
- Mrs. Michelle Guenther and Mrs. Katie Droder of Queen City Book Bank for coordinating the donation of 1000 new books
- Mrs. Bev Flaherty for coordinating all the student volunteers and shopping for toys
- The more than 60 Elder student volunteers and Isa Flaherty who helped at the Toy Shop
- Mrs. Tara Tuttle, Mr. Jeff Tuttle, Mrs. Mary Beth Corey, Mrs. Colleen Daubenmerkl and Mr. Adam Duwel for their assistance at the Toy Shop
- Mr. Greg Dickman for volunteering his class to help transport toys and books multiple times
- Mr. Tom Roberts and Mrs. Erin Nowak of St. Vincent de Paul for working with us again year
- The wonderful Elder moms who helped with gift wrapping and other tasks!
- CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
HISTORY
The Elder Toy Shop was started in the 1980’s by Mrs. Liz Witte, an Elder mom. Mrs. Witte believed that all kids should have some toys to open on Christmas day and she decided to do something about it. For many years while her sons were at Elder, Mrs. Witte would coordinate the collection of food and toys to be distributed to needy families in Over-The-Rhine. As the years went and her sons graduated, the reins were passed to her son Pete Witte who still supports the event to this day. As the demographics of our city changed, the Toy Shop changed to serve primarily our Price Hill neighbors in need. We are pleased to be able to honor Mrs. Witte’s legacy as we prepare for Toy Shop this year. CLICK HERE for a Price Hill Press article from 2011.
TOY DRIVE 2025
On Wed, Dec 3, Elder will have a Theme Day and students are asked to bring in one or more unwrapped toys that will be used at our Toy Shop. The type of toy to be brought in will be based upon students’ HR teacher. We truly appreciate any support students and parents can give to our Toy Shop this year!
TOY SHOP 2025
We are excited to partner with St. Vincent de Paul once again this year and be a part of their Christmas Together programs. SVDP has a long history of serving neighbors in need in Cincinnati (and around the world), and they have hosted successful Toy Shops for many years, helping neighbors in need who request assistance during the Holiday season. Even though we are working with SVDP this year, the neighbors who will be shopping at Elder’s Toy Shop reside in the Price Hill area – so we are truly helping our neighbors in need again this year. NOTE: All families invited to our shop will have been notified by St. Vincent de Paul. Unfortunately we are NOT able to accept walkups.
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS & ADULT VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to everyone who registered to help. We currently have all of the volunteers we need for the Toy Shop Setup on Fri, Dec 12 (2:30 – 4:30 PM) and the Toy Shop on Sat, Dec 13 (8 AM – 1 PM). Email Todd Forman (formantt@elderhs.net) if you’d like to be put on the wait list.