Local couple brings fun to city mission children

“I got involved with the Laura’s Home gala a few years ago, and then I started thinking about the children who were at the home. I thought that people are often generous at Christmas time with toys, but what happens in the summer?” Michaleen asked herself.

The answer? Not as many donations come to the women’s crisis center in the summer months.

So Michaleen and Bob decided to change that.

They created an annual Toy Drive, which this year, took place last Saturday at the couple’s real estate office, Keller Williams Living, in Solon.

“We started the Toy Drive about four years ago, and now we have about 100 people who participate, bringing summer toys like bubbles, sand toys and beach balls.”

The Pauls always donate a slew of baby pools as well.

“At Laura’s Home, they fill some of the pools with water, and in the others they put sand, so the kids have two different places to play,” she explained.

The one thing the Pauls cannot accept are toy guns, including water guns, as these items are not allowed at Laura’s Home.

But other than that, any kind of toy donations are welcome. Sometimes the donors get carried away with trying to think about all of the things kids might use in the summer months.

“I had some ladies bring a whole bunch of tiny bathing suits last year, and they said,’Can the children use these?’ and I said, ‘Of course they can.’”

She and her husband have found a fun way to thank those who donate to the toy drive.

“We also have an ice cream truck on site for donation day, so that is usually very popular with the kids,” she said.

Especially right when the toy drive starts at 10 a.m.

The Pauls say holding the toy drive brings them joy. They like to go to Laura’s Home after the donation just to watch the excitement of the children playing with the summer toys.

When asked if she is a pool-type person, and that is why she chose a summer toy drive, Michaleen laughed.

“No, I am not much of a pool person,” she laughed. “But I do know how much kids enjoy playing in the water and sand in the summer months.”

According to Sarah Hamilton, donor relations representative for Laura’s Home, the organization is grateful for donations, especially from people like the Pauls.

“We are just so grateful to Michaleen and Bob and what they do. We know how excited the children are to receive toys, especially brand new ones, and we know particularly in the summer months, when they are out of school, that toys are greatly needed.”

She explained that there are usually 60 children and more than 50 women in Laura’s Home at any time.

Another use for the donated toys is for the home’s “birthday room.”

“Mothers get to go into the birthday room and select a toy that they can give to their child for that child’s birthday. Having the ability to do that just means so much to them,” she said.

Saevar Thordarson, of Solon, who owns Heritage Coffee, stopped by to donate an overflowing bag of coloring books, markers and arts and crafts supplies. He has been donating to the Paul’s toy drive for three years now.

‘I am just happy to be a part of this. It really is a great cause,” he said.

The Pauls say a “silver lining” of the toy drive is it gives them a chance to see many of their neighbors and friends from Solon, like Mr. Thordarson.

“In some ways, donation day is like a mini reunion each year,” laughed Michaleen.

This reunion helps the children who are staying at a crisis center forget for a little while and enjoy some childhood summer fun – summer fun made better by the joy of playing with new summer toys, donated through the kindness and caring of people such as the Pauls and their fellow donors from Solon.