Operation Stocking Stuffer

Parks and Recreation press release:

Operation Stocking Stuffer

On Friday, the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department and City Employees made the holiday a little brighter for 140 area children at Weisser Youth Center. The Park Department’s Employee Task Force headed up “Operation Stocking Stuffer,” a project they’ve been working on since October. After sending out a plea for donations to all city employees, they received enough cash and items to fill the stockings to the brim with presents such as beanie babies, art supplies, zoo and pool passes, as well as more essential items like chapstick, hand sanitizer, hats, gloves and microwavable foods. Wal-Mart donated gift cards and Wendy’s and McDonalds expressed their goodwill by donating certificates for ice cream.

“I’m very proud of our Employee Task Force. They’ve accomplished quite a bit this year,” said Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll. “When they see a need in the community, whether it’s helping out at the Rescue Mission, or raising staff morale, or making the holidays special for kids at our youth centers, they know how to make it happen.”

When the youth from Jennings, Cooper and Weisser Centers arrived at the annual holiday party, they expected to enjoy some treats before picking up the empty stockings they’d decorated the week before. They were extremely surprised to receive a bag full of gifts to fill up their stockings. Several MP3 players, art projects, Rubiks cubes and games were also handed out as door prizes to kids from each youth center.