BUCYRUS–A routine trip to Walmart turned into a “memory maker” for one Bucyrus family.
A chance to be grateful. A chance to give back to the community.
Ron and Connie Lutz were at the Bucyrus Walmart Friday shopping with their daughter, Amy Lutz, when, out of the blue, a gentleman tapped Ron on the shoulder and asked if he was a veteran. Then he handed him a $200 gift card to the store.
“He said he was from the VFW in Bucyrus and that they were giving them out for the holidays to veterans,” said Lutz, who served in the U.S. Navy. “I said there’s probably other people that could use it more than I, but he thanked me for my service and went on his way.”
Lutz went on his way too and soon landed in front of the store’s bicycle display, where a couple was picking out a bike for the Bucyrus Fire Department’s Toy Drive on Saturday. “So, I said to my wife and daughter, ‘Why don’t we get toys for the firefighters?’”
And they did.
Dozens of games, stuffed animals, baby dolls, and basketballs for boys and girls alike.
“We had the carts piled high, and we just had so much fun doing it,” said Connie Lutz. “There’s so many kids that don’t have Christmas. It’s just nice to do something nice for the kids.”
Their daughter, meanwhile, posted photos of their shopping extravaganza on Facebook, where the page exploded with “likes” over the weekend. “Oh, how fun that was!!!” she remarked, giving credit to her father for his quick thinking on how to use his newfound gift.
On Saturday around 10 a.m., they hauled their donations to the fire station, which was already lined with Christmas toys for the needy. But Lutz said the real thank-you goes out to VFW Post 1078 for making it possible and spreading holiday cheer.
“It really made us feel good, I guess, just the joy of being able to do it and pay it back to the community,” Lutz said. “I guess their toy drive was over the top.”