Not to be a grinch…but the City is donating the use of Erie Street Market for Children’s Wonderland?
It may or may not be a good location, but in skimming the media headlines from local television stations, I saw this from FOX Toledo Children’s Wonderland will open at ESM. Who made the decision to donate the space free of charge? Are all of the expenses related to the space being rented paid for?
When this was first announced it was stated that they had to have a certain number of volunteers before they could move forward. So, beyond my wondering, those of you interested in volunteering to set up the displays are asked to email savechristmasintoledo@gmail.com or go down to the Erie Street Market during the day.
As the FOX Toledo article points out, there is no date set for opening and admission has not been set yet. When that information becomes available I’ll update.
The Blade is reporting $5 admission with a can of food and $7 without ….
They also say the space is donated by the person already leasing the space…though it doesn’t say who that person/entity is.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:01 amThanks, I haven’t headed over to the Blade yet this morning, on that issue, apparently it must be allowed to sublease.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:04 amHuman energy, time, money paid to Commissioners, and City people by
December 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pmtaxpayers for a less than a 3 week display when many more urgent issues are never delt with appropriately,
that is insane!
How many people have the $5 or $7 for
the admission when so many unemployed
and do not know where or if their Christmas Dinner is going to be on their tablethis year along with no Christmas gifts
for their children??
Give them your entire salary and savings Konop!
December 1st, 2009 at 3:24 pmI think if the city is not paying for the space, then Thank you to whomever donated the space to save “Children’s Wonderland”! This is a memorable childhood past time of mine and I love to experience this each year with my own children.
Believe me, with all the programs available, no child in Toledo should be without a Christmas gift….I am humbled every year in the schools alone of business that adopt families. There is Toys For Tots and thousands of other community opportunities and avenues for families to receive help.
KUDOS!
December 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pmand LISA….u are not a “Grinch”….lol- love it! Just a competent and smart reporter (so to speak), regardless of what some may say
December 1st, 2009 at 5:03 pmwELL, MANY OF US KNOW LOTS OF THEM AND
THERE WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE MANY MORE THAT WILL DO WITHOUT THIS YEAR;
SO CALLED PROGRAMS DO NOT COVER EVERYONE AND MANY THEY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT!
December 1st, 2009 at 5:24 pmGuess those that have the $5 or $7 plus
December 1st, 2009 at 6:10 pmfood and toys for themselves from some where or given to them could care less
if there are still many who fall through the cracks and have nothing and
no good memories of the Christmas season.
Those who donate food are helping and the profits of this has been previously stated was going to the Toledo Seagate Food Bank so those who do pay the $7.00 will also be helping, probably more so because the food bank will be able to use those additional $2.00 to purchase food for those in need. The need has increased as to area residents who rely on our area food banks for help.
December 1st, 2009 at 6:18 pmChristmas is not just for children, it is for everyone, at least I always believed.
Many of the disabled, elderly, some families, etc. do
not get anything at the Food Bank,
Salvation Army, etc.because they have
no transportation or anyone to get them
there to get it for them so need to do without
all year along with Christmas.
The Food Bank, Salvation Army, etc.
do not deliver it to them.
So everyone enjoy all their meals and have pleasant memories while
December 1st, 2009 at 6:41 pmmany are alone along with their stomachs growling.
Food for Thought delivers groceries to those in need and there are other organizations in place that will take donations to those who are not able to get them.
Services like 211 have a list so anyone who does need help should be encouraged to call them.
December 1st, 2009 at 6:51 pmLisa Renee, I looked at the “Food for
Thought” web site and found that their
mobile pantry goes to 4 different neighborhood sites per month and were
at a specific location for certain hours but does not state transportation or that it will be taken
to a person home.
That is what some of the residents I
was referring to that I mentioned.
Some of the other places that I was aware of want to charge a delivery fee
according to each indivdual’s income
qualification.
If there are others and can learn about them I will surely pass it on
December 1st, 2009 at 7:13 pmto those in need.
They do go to those neighborhoods but if someone contacts them who is in need, they will help. I really do recommend 211 they have a better list of some of the groups out there that can help those without transportation. I know as an example, several of the different church groups have helped those who are unable to get to food banks.
There are a lot more people seeking help, but it’s not completely hopeless.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:34 pmI agree, nothing is hopeless….211 is a great resource for anyone. Plus if they are getting any government assistance, they can qualify for a free cell phone with 68 minutes reloaded each month through safelinkwireless.com
For the elderly and disabled, “meals on wheels” always is a great service….Also, I know area churches and community centers distribute food each week…
Nothing is Hopeless. However, we can always find a way to help those less fortunate instead of our negative energy towards issues!
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:28 pmThere’s also a Mobile Meals program housed in the Mercy building that does home-delivered meals.
http://www.mobilemeals.org/home_delivered_meals.htm
December 5th, 2009 at 11:19 amI just love Children’s Wonderland! To me it is still magical. Yet I can’t afford to go,and I work.It is hard enough to make it day to day. What is more important to me? Wonderland or bills and food on table. I have Christmas gifts to buy, and have to make a choice. Not everyone can afford even $5.00.
December 6th, 2009 at 7:29 amI’m glad they were able to find volunteers to staff the event. My husband has been going since he was a little kid, and it has become a tradition for us to take our kids. (I’m not originally from Toledo, so I’ve only been going as long as I’ve been a mom.)
We’ve done away with any “big” events from our family budget, to focus on having more frequent, less expensive local outings. $5 a person really isn’t bad for a family outing. No, not everyone can afford it. But not everyone can afford a trip to Disneyland or Cedar Point either – are we saying those places shouldn’t be open?
I volunteer to help a variety of local organizations throughout the year, plus donate items and (occasionally) cash as well. This year for Christmas, I’ve already contributed to multiple toy drives (one at my work, each of my kids classes have held a drive, plus I always donate items to Toys for Tots). Donated last years like-new winter coats and boots (that no longer fit) to a winter clothing drive, etc.
So, I won’t feel guilty for spending $20 to keep up our annual family holiday outing to Children’s Wonderland. (And I have also inquired about volunteering to staff it as well, just don’t know what days/times I’ll be needed yet.)
If the space has been donated by someone who is already paying rent to the city, if the event is being staffed by volunteers, and if no additional money is being spent on decorations (which I presume are already owned/paid for), then I have a hard time seeing why anyone would have a big problem with it.
We can’t take away all of the fun and tradition around here. (Though obviously I understand scaling back and making cuts along the way, especially if public money is involved.)
December 6th, 2009 at 4:21 pmI agree SA, Children’s Wonderland is much less expensive than the Lights before Christmas, and that is tax payer supported.
There is a lot my family can’t afford but I don’t begrudge those who have more, we can continue to remember that there are those who don’t have as much and I wish we as a community did more, but there are those who give as much as they can.
I’m however waiting to see if the machines that make the wax figures are going to be there…
December 6th, 2009 at 4:26 pmAh – the wax figurines! I just pulled out the ones my kids had from a previous year. They keep them on their dressers with a few other decorations during the Christmas season.
I should also note that my husband and I make it a point to explain to our kids that they should be grateful for the things they have and are able to do. They are very aware that there are a lot of less fortunate folks out there right now, and they are generous kids (have donated some of their own money from birthdays/allowances/garage sale to needy folks, have helped pick out food and toys to donate to drives, etc.).
(We aren’t wealthy by any means – in any other economy, we’d barely be middle class. But we do have stability, which we are thankful for.)
I still like to be able to do “fun” things with them, like Children’s Wonderland, so that they can see that hard work and good behavior can have rewards. But they are well-aware that those “extras” are things that should be appreciated.
December 6th, 2009 at 5:09 pmWell, Konop since the Christmas Wonderland is going to be open for
December 7th, 2009 at 6:26 pmonly 2 weeks, why haven’t you forced
it so that the children who formerly
went to the Connecting Point along
with their parents into the Christmas
Wonderland FREE since you said nothing
or did anything to help them whatsoever!