Cambridge toy drive aims to help local families

Giving back has always been something that Katie Mae Smith has wanted to do.
Last year Smith started a holiday gift drive for families in need and was able to help 28 home, this year she’s hoping to help even more.

“There’s kids out there that wake up and they won’t have a toy, and you know, they won’t have food or something like that and if we can bring the joy to that one child, five, or ten, that’s what our goal is,” Smith said.

Smith’s toy drive is appropriately named the Miracle on Poplar Street
Poplar street because of where Katie’s store began and the miracle because of what Smith’s accomplishing.

“It means a lot because somebody like her. this is the type of person she is 104 she really cares about people,” said local Pam Decraecke.

The toy drive serves families in the Cambridge area Smith said.

Smith said she chooses the families by speaking with local schools to see where the gifts are most needed .

This year both Katie Mae’s Country Shoppe and RAR Brewery have signs on the outside marking that you can drop off toys for the drive there.

If you can’t purchase a gift yourself, don’t worry you can pick up a Groove City stickers for only $3 at either RAR or Katie’s and all proceeds will go to buy gifts at the end of the toy drive.

Although the toy drive didn’t officially start until Saturday night with a toy drive kickoff party at RAR, co-owner Chris Brohawn said they’ve already received more than 20 gifts.

Brohawn said he expects even more to pour in before the toy drive ends December 19th.