Alliance Walmart employees donate toys to local Salvation Army

Benjamin Duer, The Alliance Review
·2 min read
A group of Alliance Walmart employees, some in elf costumes, load donated toys into a van for the Alliance chapter of the Salvation Army.
A group of Alliance Walmart employees, some in elf costumes, load donated toys into a van for the Alliance chapter of the Salvation Army.

ALLIANCE – Her eyes said it all.

Major Tara Harrison of the Alliance Salvation Army was bright-eyed with a smile watching as "elves" loaded donated toys into a van at Walmart.

"Oh my goodness. This is amazing," she told them. "We are so blessed."

Employees at the Walmart store at 2700 W. State St. bought, then donated four shopping carts full of toys to the local Salvation Army.

Alliance Walmart employees bought, then donated four shopping carts full of toys to the Salvation Army in Alliance for Christmas.
Alliance Walmart employees bought, then donated four shopping carts full of toys to the Salvation Army in Alliance for Christmas.

Harrison picked up the donation Tuesday.

She said the ministry has more than 860 children ― up 135 from 2021 ― it is helping this Christmas. This donation "will help us fill that need," a grateful Harrison said.

"It's a huge blessing for us," she added.

The local chapter has received additional donations from others.

Giving elsewhere

For a few years, the Alliance Walmart has held a "12 Days of Christmas" event for its employees. Most of the time the activities lighten their spirits.

This one was to help the community.

"It's really a stressful time for the associates, a lot of pressure," said store manager Sarah McDonald, who was dressed in an elf costume.

Jo Zurbrugg, a worker at the Alliance Walmart, and store manager Sarah McDonald pack shopping carts with toys bought by store employees and donated to the Salvation Army.
Jo Zurbrugg, a worker at the Alliance Walmart, and store manager Sarah McDonald pack shopping carts with toys bought by store employees and donated to the Salvation Army.

She added: "I think we always know we fill a need. I think we feel that from the customers. This year, I know it was going to be tough for a lot folk."

So the store and its employees started the internal toy drive for the Salvation Army. This specific collection was not open for the public to donate.

"To see the amount of toys that we did, I don't know if we planned on it being that big of drive. But the associates did a really good job and I'm excited," McDonald said.

Employee Jo Zurbrugg added: "It feels like Christmas."

Harrison said the Salvation Army will distribute food, clothes and toys starting Friday.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com

Follow on Twitter @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Walmart employees in Alliance bought, donated toys to Salvation Army