CANTON — Braving a cold morning, Audrey Walker and a contingent of volunteers tried to make the holidays a little brighter and warmer for people in need on Thursday.
They gave away hats, gloves, scarves, hand warmers, snacks, and toiletries through Walker’s outreach, Keeping Our Community Warm.
It marks the second year the North Canton resident and her husband and son, Clint Sr. and Clinton Jr., have spearheaded a giveaway.
“I thank God that he’s allowing us to help them as much as we can,” Walker said. “They say this is the time of year for giving, but every day is a time of giving.”
As grateful people picked up packets before catching their buses, there were nearby signs of deep poverty. Though a new Refuge of Hope men’s shelter is located just across from the SARTA station, there were discarded materials where people had been sleeping on the street.
As part of the giveaway, the group also handed out McDonald’s coupons for free food.
“McDonald’s has been really generous with us,” Walker said. “For a lot of people, that’s a meal. For some of these guys, this is the only holiday they’re going to get.”
Walker said she and volunteers buy and collect items throughout the year.
They include members of the Hoover High School football team and “football moms” such as Jackie Pooler, who set up a donation box at the Scott Talbot Salonspa.
“We have a lot of volunteers this year that we didn’t have last year,” Walker said. “I’m grateful for that. People don’t help like they used to.”
Another helper is Allison Dewees, a Walsh University sophomore from Medina.
“I wanted to try to do something nice,” she said.
Football mom Jill Buchanan teased her son, Chris, for not wearing a coat.
“I told him to bring it,” she said. “But this is a good way for him to understand how people are struggling out here to stay warm.”
Nonetheless, Buchanan said she’s proud of her son.
“Chris volunteers everywhere he can,” she said. “He just has a heart for people.”
Clint Walker Sr., an Iraq War veteran, said he saw a lot of homelessness when he was deployed. Walker said he has a goal of getting an empty building in Canton to use as a giveaway center.
“We just met a young man with a blanket and no place to stay,” he said.
Audrey Walker, who’s also an author, said she’s donating $2 from every purchase of her book, “Family Secrets,” to Keeping Our Community Warm. They may be purchased at Walker’s website at www.getbooksbysarahflateknight.com.
Santa’s helper
Ten-year-old Ava Gattuso, who recently moved here from Cincinnati, got to play Santa’s helper as she delivered gifts to residents she purchased with money she raised herself.
Ava’s mother, Kendran, a graduate of GlenOak High School, said her daughter researched which local organizations could use some holiday cheer.
“I like helping people,” Ava said. “I found this organization and I just really wanted to help.”
Sister Adelina, 8, and cousins Tommy Pike and Madison Kohl helped Ava and her mom lug in the bags of gifts.
“(She) sat us down several weeks ago and told us that Christmas was really about giving and she feels so blessed in her life and instead of presents, wanted to help raise money for a local organization that assists homeless women and children,” Kendran Gattuso said. “From her experience in Cincinnati and seeing other parts of the country she wanted to do something to bring some Christmas cheer.”
Ava purchased more than 60 gifts, four sets of pots and pans, and hygiene bags with the $1,609 she raised through a video and online giving.
The shelter’s 33 residents also were treated to a movie party on Thursday, replete with gifts.
“We’ve had an awesome outpouring,” said Shana Smith, YWCA executive director. “This can be a very difficult time for so many.”
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