CES Texas Toy Drives: Local Electrical Suppliers Give Back
Texas toy drives sponsored by thirty-one City Electric Supply branches helped bring a merrier Christmas to hundreds of children this year. The heartwarming charity event, occurring from October 11 through December 10, donated over 800 toys to several area nonprofits.
The electrical suppliers across Austin, Houston, and San Antonio were more than happy to deliver the truckloads of gifts. Regional Manager Nate Jefferson said, “It would be a shame if we couldn’t give back to the communities that give so much to us. I have three kids, and a kid’s smile means the world to me.”
Austin Toy Drive
The Austin electrical suppliers donated to Partnerships for Children. This nonprofit provides support and care for children, youth, and families involved with Child Protective Services.
“We cannot thank City Electric Supply enough for helping us turn wishes into smiles this holiday season,” said Partnerships for Children Volunteer and Engagement Manager Kelly Wisniewski. “Without the Holiday Wishes Program, these kids might not have received a present for Christmas. It means the world to have the community come together and empower these families.”
Mehs Ess, District Manager of Austin, said he felt fortunate to contribute. “When your branches are doing well, you can put effort toward more than just the day-to-day. It makes us feel like we’re more than just a business,” Ess said.
“I’m glad that Nate specified that each district donates to local charities,” Ess continued. “Any chance we have to be involved in our communities is really important to us.”
Houston Toy Drive
The Houston electrical suppliers delivered gifts to DePelchin Children’s Center. DePelchin assists children in foster care, supports foster and adoptive parents, and facilitates adoptions. The Houston branch also provided gift cards for foster parents to purchase children’s gifts themselves.
“This year, we are serving over 890 kids in the Houston area in our Holiday Project,” said DePelchin Children’s Center Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager Kelsey Pett. “We know that we cannot service this number of children during the holidays without groups like City Electric Supply. Making the holidays magical for them is what’s most important to us.”
Darren Thode, District Manager of Houston South, looks forward to getting involved in more “fun stuff” like the Texas toy drive.
“We’ve all spent so much time making our business successful. We’re expanding, opening branches, and creating jobs. That success now gives us the ability to be more involved in the community and help our people,” Thode said.
Darron Rocka, District Manager of Houston North, followed, “We’re not just a good business. You cannot work for a better company. Add that it’s also a business that helps children — I could not be more excited.”
San Antonio Toy Drive
The San Antonio electrical suppliers gave back to the oldest community nonprofit in San Antonio, Family Service. This organization provides economic stability, education, health and healthcare services, neighborhood support, and more.
“The toys that City Electric Supply collected have gone to support our 2021 Adopt-A-Family campaign,” said Family Service President and CEO Mary Garr. “This year, we have over 500 families involved in the program. Many of our families are in the same position this year as last year, being affected by COVID. We want to make sure the community understands that they are really making an impact when donating.”
Tyler Cannon, District Manager of San Antonio, explained, “Charities have about 20 percent of what they used to due to COVID. It’s a huge deficit. A lot of people got hit hard, but not everyone thinks about the nonprofits and charities that get hit, too.”
Team Spirit
Though Jefferson brought forth the idea for the Texas toy drives, he credits everyone else across the thirty-one branches.
“I’m fortunate to be connected to a great group of people who just ran with it. The idea was nothing without their dedication to it,” Thompson said.
“We all get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle. It was rewarding to have everyone take a step back and say, ‘We want to help.’ I feel that same sense of family you get when you sit down at Thanksgiving,” said Jefferson.
Like a true family, many members could not help themselves in turning the toy drive into a friendly rivalry. Branches spurred on each other, raising the stakes and excitement to even greater results.
Community Involvement
Rocka spoke about one customer who went home and told his wife about the drive; they immediately shopped and returned with gifts. Cannon shared that a single customer filled one branch’s entire bin. CES employees donated gifts with their own money as well.
“It’s unbelievable the response we got. Even people who knew nothing about CES saw our social posts and asked where they could drop toys off,” Jefferson said.
Looking to Next Year
Each district involved expressed enthusiasm about making the Texas toy drives an annual event. Like any other part of the business, many team members already have ideas to make next year bigger and better. Jefferson said he’s considering how to sponsor families in some way beyond the toy drive.
Rocka said, “When we set our minds to something, we do our best. Then we learn and get better for the next time. Whether it’s work or charity, we want to be more prepared.”