By Dee Grenert Staff Writer
LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Lions collected 65 toys and served between 25 and 30 families during its first Toys for Tots drive in 2003.
“We were happy,” Lion and project coordinator Dave Court said of that first campaign. “We thought we were doing well.”
Fast forward to 2009. The Lakeville Lions and new partner LaPaz Lions joined forces to accumulate 825 toys, more than 200 stuffed animals, 200 books, 200 stocking stuffers and cash donations, and even added 75 hand-knitted hats to the mix.

Saturday’s distribution day at the Union-North Ambulance Service building in Lakeville drew approximately 87 families with 225 children from the Lakeville-LaPaz area as suggested by the Salvation Army, churches and Union and North Township trustees, as well as an appearance from U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly.
“Congressman Donnelly said he’d never seen anything like it,” Lakeville Lion Ed Gorka said. “He couldn’t believe how well coordinated this is.”
“With these two clubs, you get to see community serving community,” Court said. “There’s no federal money, no state money. Besides toys, we received financial donations over and above what anyone could have expected. We never asked for the financial donations. And it stays in the community.”
That local flavor, said LaPaz Lion Al Burch, caught the LaPaz organization’s attention.
“That’s why we were so interested, because it’s local,” Burch said. “It’s a great project, and the LaPaz Lions are very happy to be involved. The LaPaz community supported it very well.”
In fact, the LaPaz Lions collected 200 toys in their first year, helping the 2009 operation fly past last year’s 550 toys. Both groups held a single blitz day in their respective towns on separate Saturdays this month, although donations trickled in even after the blitzes.
“The toys were coming in to the last day,” Gorka said. “Nobody was turned away.”
And when the doors opened, a few minutes before the listed 8 a.m. start time, wide-eyed children from infants through high school age filed past tables overflowing with toys of all shapes and sizes.
Families exited with sacks full of toys while Lions members transported food boxes, organized by the Lions and LaVille Jr.-Sr. High School Student Council members, for the same families and other needy individuals in the community.
“We had no idea what to expect,” LaPaz Lion Chris Cox said. “We’re real happy with the people’s response to the toy drive.
“It looks like we’re making a difference when you see the joy of the kids being able to pick what they want,” he continued. “People seem to be sincerely happy. Everyone’s working together and doing a great job.”
Lakeville Lion Rose Russell left her own mark, knitting 75 hats of various colors and four different sizes, from baby to adult. Those hats – Russell’s winter project – were snapped up quickly.
“I noticed last year that some of the children were selecting hats instead of toys,” Russell said. “I didn’t think anyone should have to choose a hat without choosing one of the toys. Once people found out what I was doing, they started giving me yarn.”
Meanwhile, Court is already planning a major change for next year’s Toys for Tots distribution morning – a move to The Newton Center in Lakeville.
“We’ve outgrown (the ambulance) building,” Court said. “When we started this, I never thought it would get this big.”