Keweenaw, Houghton Sheriffs collect toys for needy kids EAGLE RIVER ’Äì Giant boxes overflowing with toys indicate that Copper Country generosity is on the way to making the second annual Sheriffs’Äô "No Kid Without a Toy" Christmas drive a success. Keweenaw and Houghton County Sheriffs’Äô department offices are piled high with gifts for needy kids. Keweenaw County Sheriff Ron Lahti adds another gift to the collection of toys for needy kids in his office. He will pick up on Friday about 150 more gifts from the recent Eagle Harbor Inn benefit party. Besides the Keweenaw and Houghton County Sheriffs’Äô offices, Wal-Mart, Shopko and Pamida are providing collection boxes for the toys. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw County Sheriff’Äôs Office) "Without the help of all the people in the Keweenaw, these kids wouldn’Äôt have the Christmas that every kid deserves to have," said Keweenaw County Sheriff Ron Lahti. "The goal of this program is to see that every kid has those memories of Christmas that are so important." Lahti said the unique situation of Keweenaw County’Äôs small size makes it possible to be sure every child in need receives a gift. He noted more than 50 children in the county are eligible to receive the gifts ’Äì determined by family income. "It never fails in Keweenaw County. When you ask for help in projects like this, people are amazing. They get out and support it," Lahti added. "All the toys that are collected in Keweenaw (County) are staying in Keweenaw County." Eagle Harbor Inn customers brought more than 150 gifts to a party hosted by Inn owners Dick and Mary Probst Wednesday. Pictured with the piles of toys for needy kids are (left to right) Rich Probst (Dick's son), Mary Probst, Amanda Laurie (waitress) and Dick Probst. (Photo courtesy George Hite) A party Wednesday evening at the Eagle Harbor Inn, hosted by owners Mary and Dick Probst, brought in a large number of donations, including a bicycle. "It was packed ’Äì about 100 people," said Mary Probst, who has held the party for several years ’Äì previously for Salvation Army collections and recently for the Sheriffs’Äô drive. Regular customers from Copper Harbor to Chassell showed up with so many gifts, Mary said, that this was the first year she didn’Äôt count them. Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor Jim Boggio noted some snowmobilers (from Minneapolis) walked in, not knowing what the party was about. Before they left they had written a generous check for the cause. Added Eagle Harbor resident George Hite, "Santa Ron will personally deliver the gifts (from the party), and others the Sheriff's crew has collected, to 25 to 30 homes on Christmas Eve. Nice guy!" Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean said the turnout in the Houghton area has also been great. "We’Äôre happy to help participate in the Christmas season," McLean said. "We realize there are other businesses and organizations having gift drives. We don’Äôt want to take away from anybody else ’Äì just provide another avenue or opportunity for people to give." McLean noted last year his office collected about 200 toys, helping 60 families ’Äì many with several children. "We’Äôre very pleased. We have a very giving community," he said. In the Houghton County Sheriff’Äôs Office, Sgt. Gary Erickson finds a spot for another toy on the pile of gifts collected for needy kids. The drive continues through Friday, Dec. 22. Sgt. Rick Rivest said the Houghton County Sheriff’Äôs Office is filled with more gifts than they expected. "We started with a really huge box," he said. "We’Äôve filled that up, and three more boxes ’Ķ and presents are piled up on the sides." The drive will continue through Friday, Dec. 22. Collection boxes are available in Wal-Mart, Shopko, Pamida, the Keweenaw County Sheriff’Äôs Office in Eagle River and the Houghton County Sheriff’Äôs Office next to the Courthouse in Houghton. Gifts may be for all ages up to 15. Lahti noted gifts for children in the 10-12-year-old bracket are in shortest supply now. The choice of gift is up to the donor. Lahti said anyone in the county who has something to donate and can’Äôt get to the Eagle River office should notify him and he’Äôll send someone to pick up the gift items. Call Sheriff Lahti at (906) 337-0528 or email him at ksheriff@ccisd.k12.mi.us. Gifts do not have to be wrapped, Mc Lean noted, but if donors wish to wrap them they should indicate on the outside of the package the age of the child it’Äôs meant for and whether it’Äôs for a boy or a girl or either. Houghton County residents may call the Sheriff’Äôs Office at (906) 482-4411. -Michele Anderson December 15, 2000 Editor’Äôs note: In place of the $2 cover charge Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Cliff View Inn in Phoenix, customers may bring a Toy for Tots. Owner Holly Leskinen said the toys will be divided between the Keweenaw County Sheriff’Äôs drive and the Salvation Army collection. The rock ’Äòn roll band Fat Chance will be playing, beginning about 9 p.m.