Published January 05. 2021 11:40AM
Allentown and Bethlehem District CVS employees came to the rescue, donating over 1,000 toys to the Bethlehem Boys and Girls Club’s annual toy give-away held Dec. 21. The event had been delayed by the snowstorm the week before.
Hard hit by COVID, businesses who normally collected toys were unable to commit in 2020. CVS store manager Rick Brown said, “CVS stepped up to fill a giving gap in the year of COVID,” as over 400 employees from the Allentown and Bethlehem districts collected over 1,000 toys. Members of the Boys and Girls clubs, as well as neighborhood children were the benefactors of the CVS employees’ generosity. Boxes of toys were displayed on tables in the Northeast Boys and Girl Club’s parking lot and participants lined up to file past and choose the toy of their preference.
Volunteer Destiny Velasquez and program assistant Genesis Velasquez set up a display of toys as residents begin to line up.
Pedro Ramos, a club member, wheels boxes filled with toys to tables set up for give away.
Ramiro and Jaiden look closely to decide which toy they'd like to select. They are both members of the club.
PRESS PHOTOS BY DANA GRUBB About 30 Boys and Girls Club members wait in line at the CVS-sponsored Christmas toy give away.
Gamal said he likes the New York Giants football team and selected a football.
Residents check out a display of toys so they can make the right selection for their children.
Eriana selected a Wispy Walker Doll that was just about her size.
CVS managers said over 400 Allentown and Bethlehem CVS employees donated over 1,000 toys. Above: store managers Ashley Berhel, Rick Brown, Jill Boyer, Matt Boyer, Brian Happel and care concierge Drake Campbell.
