Alexis Puza with toys collected to date at North Elm Butcher Block for Shriner’s Hospital for Children. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – When North Elm Butcher Block owner Dan Puza’s daughter Alexis, a junior at Westfield High School, told him she was thinking of doing a toy drive, he was at first reluctant, telling her how much work it would be. “I didn’t want her to get her hopes up,” he said.
Determined, Alexis called four or five charities to talk to them about it, some who got back to her and some who didn’t; before settling on the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. “She picked somebody that’s close to our community, helping a lot of kids,” Puza said.
He wrote on his Facebook page that he spent a few weeks there as a child, and this aunt Barbra was a nurse there for years. “It sends the right message,” he said.
The Shriner’s sent her a wish list to post, and customers responded.
“In the first three days, I was blown away (by the response),” Puza said, adding that some customers brought in bags of gifts, as many as five or six. “It was heartwarming to watch,” he said. By Tuesday morning, there were over 120 gifts.
Puza is beaming with pride for his daughter, who he describes as very busy in school, participating in college-level courses in Westfield Promise, which gives her hours of homework; and as a member of the Key Club community service group. He said she did the toy collection all on her own.
Puza also said while Alexis doesn’t know exactly what she will be doing after high school, she has an interest in marketing, takes all of the photos for North Elm Butcher Block’s social media accounts, and has a “real” job on top of that.
“Being a high school kid, you never know how much they’ll put into it. When she went all out, I was super proud of her,” Puza said.
Besides the toys listed on the wish list, customers are also dropping off gift cards and cash, which Alexis is using to buy presents on the list. Puza said the toy collection will continue until Dec. 19, when his daughter will drop off the presents at Shriner’s Hospital.
Toys, gift cards (Shriner’s listed iTunes, Walmart and x-box in particular) or cash for the toy collection may be dropped off at North Elm Butcher Block, 37 N. Elm St., during their open hours, which are Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is closed on Wednesdays.
