New Life Ministries spreads some Christmas cheer
Susie Mann, left, and Kelly Kellish, right are independent contractors with Initials, Inc. and donated bags filled with toys and other items for New Life Ministries first ever Toys for Tots program. Pastor of the church, Mark Granger, is pictured in the center. Beth Scott | Beacon
COSHOCTON – The hall inside of New Life Ministries on Seventh Street in Coshocton looked like a scene right out of Santa’s workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Tables were lined with toys, which were all donated by an 85-year-old former Marine from the local Marines Corps. Reserve.
This is the first year New Life Ministries has participated in Toys for Tots and the idea came from a pastor friend of Pastor Mark Granger of New Life Ministries who lives in Bolivar.
“He’s just the most wonderful guy,” said Granger.
Everything from stuffed animals and games to Barbie dolls and toys for infants were piled onto four large tables.
But that wasn’t the only gifts that kids were able to receive at New Life on Tuesday. Susie Mann and Kelly Kellish, independent consultants for Initials, Inc. started a campaign called “Merry and Bright” where their customers would donate the cost of an Initials, Inc. bag. One hundred bags were donated and created in festive colors of green and white stripes with red lettering that said, “Merry & Bright”.
“I think they’re just fun,” said Mann about the bags. “Our company is about giving back and this is a way for Kelly and I to give back.”
Items inside the bags were toys, teddy bears, crayons, coloring books, hats, gloves, and school supplies. Mann said that Rent to Own donated money and Fit 4 You in Newcomerstown donated their tips. The owners also donated money toward the project. Mann and Kellish’s commissions from other sales also went toward the items in the bags.
“We just wanted to come up with something to do at Christmas time to pull the community together,” said Mann.
The toys were distributed to the kids on Wednesday, Dec. 21 and Granger said he hopes to continue Toys for Tots next year.
“It’s an opportunity that came our way and we’ll see how it goes this year and build on it for next year,” said Granger.
Category: People & Places
