Kirk and Sharon Frey of Kirk’s Jewelers extended “their sincerest gratitude and appreciation to their exceptional customers, community members and holiday heroes for their ongoing support” of the annual event to benefit the Chautauqua County Toys for Tots program.

Kirk and Sharon Frey said to all those who contributed, “Thank you for helping us deliver moments of happiness and joy to children in need this Christmas and for making it possible for us to bring children the best gifts of all – smiles, hope and laughter during the holidays.”

A year ago, Toys for Tots Coordinator Terri Constantino-Johnson presented Kirk and Sharon Frey with the Jason M. Williams Memorial Award. But this year, Kirk’s did not rest on its laurels. The donations kept coming, as strong as ever.

The toy drive began in November with a Ladies’ Night wish list event. Guests gave toy donations and were entered to win prizes. Toys were then collected throughout the season leading up to the holidays.

Submitted Photo Kirk Frey, of Kirk’s Jewelers, is pictured with Lauren Boyle, a volunteer with Chautauqua County Toys for Tots.

Even after 100 families were added to the list for donations, the community came through. A record number of toys were donated this year, enough to fill several truckloads.

“It is very heartwarming to know that, even in these challenging times, our wonderful Dunkirk-Fredonia community and local small businesses came through with an overwhelming amount of toy and monetary donations,” Kirk and Sharon Frey said.

The support Kirk’s Jewelers received stretched beyond Dunkirk and Fredonia, as Sage Zachmann, a Westfield Academy student, continued her annual tradition of supporting the toy drive. Zachmann and her friend, Liberty Maring, brought an entire sleigh’s worth of toys donated by the Westfield community.

Sharon Frey refers to Zachmann as Kirk’s Jewelers’ “Shining Star” for the work she does each year. Zachmann first asked for toys for other children around the holidays as her birthday gift. Kirk’s Jewelers pledged to match the number of gifts she received in the first year, and the gesture has since evolved into an annual event.

Another part of the tradition carried on as an anonymous donor made a generous donation on behalf of the Toys for Tots program, which is supported by the Marine Corps Reserve. The program has been supporting children during the holidays for nearly 80 years.

Kirk’s Jewelers gave special thanks to Toys for Tots volunteers Lauren Boyle, Brady Marx, and Lynne Newman for helping with the donations. “The gifts our local children receive are a direct result of the generosity and dedication of our donors and volunteers,” Kirk and Sharon Frey said. “What we do would not be possible without each and every one of you.”