120618-DJH-Recovery Point Toy Drive brief

Art/Photo: My photos

Column Inches: 13

Suggested Headline: Recovery Point’s annual Christmas toy drive is now underway

Social Media Tease: “It’s truly amazing to see the faces of the clients light up when you tell them

you have some toys they can give to their children,” he said. “It’s a huge confidence booster for

them, and it really doesn’t matter about the value or how big or small the toy is; it’s just about

being able to provide something for these children.”

Did you tweet story? not yet

By DOUGLAS HARDING

The Parthenon

In the spirit of Christmas, Recovery Point West Virginia is now taking donations of new and in-

package toys to benefit the families of close to 400 children of Recovery Point participants.

Donations can be toys for all ages from infants to 18-year-old boys and girls and do not need to

be pre-wrapped. Donations will be accepted via drop off or mailing at any Recovery Point

location including the Fairfield East Community Center, the Huntington administration office

and both the Charleston and Parkersburg facilities until Dec. 21.

“Every toy will help so much, no matter how big or small it is,” Greg Perry, director of recovery

support services at Recovery Point West Virginia, said.

Across the state, Recovery Point West Virginia is home to roughly 370 beds, all occupied by

residents working to initiate their recoveries from substance use disorder and various other

conditions.

“Christmas can be a rough time of year when you’re away from all your friends and family, and

you’re really working hard on yourself,” Perry said. “If you have kids (and you’re in the

recovery program), you’re not really going to have the resources to buy gifts for anyone.”

Recovery Point participants must be entirely focused on working their hardest on themselves,

Perry said, and often they may not yet be employed or able to find work at a place which pays

enough to provide for their children.

The annual toy drive is a way for Recovery Point to further interact with and make connections

with their communities which they know support them, Perry said.

“It’s truly amazing to see the faces of the clients light up when you tell them you have toys they

can give to their children,” he said. “It’s a huge confidence booster for them, and it really doesn’t

matter about the value or how big or small the toy is; it’s just about being able to provide

something for these children.”

While a donated toy may seem like only a small contribution, Perry said, each one will go an

exceptionally long way in helping a client continue on their road to recovery.

“The addiction crisis that we have in our area effects hundreds, probably thousands- untold

numbers- of children every day,” he said. “We are trying to make a difference one child, one

client at a time. If we continue doing that, the problem can start to be diminished and the

solutions will come.”

Douglas Harding can be contacted at harding26@marshall.edu.

photo caption: 'Battle Buddies' donated toy outside of Recovery Point's Huntington

administration office, currently accepting donations now until Dec. 21.

sources: Greg Perry- 304 654 7900 & gperry@recoverypointwv.org