Cambridge residents bless 40 kids with a gift for Christmas

Inspired by the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign, Cambridge residents organized their very own toy drive for Cambridge, Midvale, and Indian Valley. Debra Dibble and some dear elves organized an effort gathering toys and monetary gifts at four Upper Country locations. Over the course of two weeks, generous individuals and families were able to donate items for any age child to a worthy cause at Country Coffee Cabin, Alpine Store, Kaye York Gallery, and the Office Bar. Arrangements could also be made through Dibble herself, as well as arrangements to receive a gift.
 “We were sitting there watching the TV, they were talking about Toys for Tots in the Valley,” said Dibble. “And we decided to do our own local to make sure our own children were taken care of.”
 Residents of the community worked to inform every possible family in need of a Christmas present for a child.
 Distribution day was held Dec. 19 at the Cambridge Baptist Church. The church was generous and donated the interior of the building for distribution needs and appointments, said Dibble. Toys leftover the following morning were donated to the food bank efforts in Midvale for families with children.
 “It had been such a terrible year and we wanted to make sure that every child that we could reach would have a good Christmas,” said Dibble. “We were able to bless around 40 children with Christmas presents.”
 This was the first year Dibble and her elf friends organized a toy drive and it is expected to become an annual event from now on. Dibble said what inspired her initially was the difficulty brought about by this year and seeing the increased need of the community.
 “Between the generous people that donated and people that received, it was just joy all around. People were happy that they were able to help someone else and the folks that needed help were very happy that there were people that were able to help,” said Dibble.