By Kimberly Gasuras

While Christmas is still a few weeks away, one Bucyrus couple already is working hard to ensure that needy children throughout the county receive gifts and food for Christmas and the memories that go with them.

Dawn and Casey Pollock, who founded the group Debbie’s Footsteps in honor of Dawn’s mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, held the first Drinks for a Claus event last year and are gearing up for this year’s event on Dec. 16 at Dillinger’s Entertainment Center and Restaurant.

“We started talking about it early last year. We remember, as kids, seeing and being a part of so many community events that involved the kids in our community. We also remember how our own parents sometimes struggled during the holidays,” said Dawn. “We feel that it’s important, that the children in our community have wonderful memories of Christmas, especially, those less fortunate.”

Casey said the idea for the event was born out of a texting conversation he had with his friend, Dave Stirtzinger of the local band the Red Ball Jets, last year.

“Somehow, we came up the idea of the Red Ball Jets playing and instead of charging a cover charge, we decided that the cover should be a toy and a non-perishable food item,” Casey said. “From there, we included Shawn Ridgeway and asked if Dillinger’s could host the event. The nice part about all of this is that the Jets and Dillinger’s were both ready to do this with no hesitation at all.”

Casey said he and Dawn enlisted the help of friends and families to make their first event successful.

“The day after the event, we were able to take all of the toys to the (Bucyrus) Fire Department as part of their toy drive and all of the food went to Good Hope Lutheran Church for their WOW program. Our volunteers who helped us work at the event last year put up tip jars, when we told them to make sure they took their tips, they instead donated them to us to purchase more toys for the kids,” Casey said. “We spent that Sunday at Walmart with our kids helping us pick out toys for the age groups that we didn’t have as many items for, the older teenagers.”

In 2016, Casey and Dawn collected more than 300 toys, about 300 food items and three turkeys.

“Many of us are parents and the feeling of seeing our own children open gifts on Christmas morning is priceless, trying to help the less fortunate give their own children gifts on Christmas and have that same joy of watching the them open presents is priceless,” Casey said.

This year’s Drinks for a Claus will be held from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Dec. 16. The “cover charge” for the event is a new, unused toy and a food item.

The Pollocks are working with the local Salvation Army as all toys will be donated to the agency to be distributed to the less fortunate children in Crawford County. All of the food items will be donated to local food pantries.

“Also, we will never turn down money at the door either. We don’t want people to not come up just because they don’t have a toy or food item,” Casey said. “The night of the event, there will be an Ugly Christmas Shirt Contest (not just sweaters) along with several other activities.”

From the Dillinger’s side of the event, owners Shawn and Tacsha Ridgeway said that they love every opportunity they get to help the community.

“The opportunity to help families at Christmas time with presents and food is one of the best feelings possible. The turn out and response from the community last year was unbelievable and we are very much looking forward to another great event this year,” Shawn Ridgeway said.

Casey said he wants to stress that this isn’t a Debbie’s Footsteps, Dillinger’s or Red Ball Jets’ event, instead it is the three groups coming together and trying to help an entire community.

“On behalf of Dawn and I, we want to thank Shawn and Tacsha for opening their doors for us and the community for this event. They are a great part of our community. I want to thank Dave, Jeremie, Scott, Larry and Erik, not as the Red Ball Jets, but individually, for donating their time to an event like this in our community. Finally, to all of our wonderful volunteers. Without the love and support of so many volunteers and donors this event would not be possible,” Casey said. “I truly feel blessed when I look at this group of people and have the privilege of considering them all friends.”

Dave Stirtzinger summed up the goal of the event.

“If we can help families provide a Christmas meal and a gift for their kids, then we have done what we set out to do,” Stirtzinger said.

For those that cannot make it to the event, toys and food items can be dropped off ahead of time at Dillinger’s, located at 144 Washington Square, or the Pollock’s will pick them up.

For pick up or more information, call 419-569-8438 or visit https://www.facebook.com/events/170866813497735.