Fire destroys thousands of toys at Northeast Ohio Salvation Army warehouse

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A fire at a Salvation Army warehouse destroyed thousands of toys being saved for hundreds of Cleveland area children — a devastating setback just as the nonprofit kicks off its holiday campaign to help more than 6,500 kids this Christmas.

The electrical fire happened over the summer at a storage unit where the Salvation Army stores toys it receives throughout the year. The fire destroyed about 2,000 toys, worth an estimated $30,000, that had been earmarked for about 1,000 Greater Cleveland children, according to Nate Berkey, Donor Relations Director for The Salvation Army in Greater Cleveland.

“It is a devastating loss for our community,” said Captain Joel Ashcraft, Area Commander for The Salvation Army in Greater Cleveland.

The Salvation Army says it needs 15,000 toys total to meet this season’s need throughout Cuyahoga County.

“In Cleveland, we have the highest child poverty rate of any large city at 51%,” Berkey said. “And so, this isn’t just a ‘man this would be really nice.’ This is a – Cleveland is in need, and kids in Cleveland are in need.”

Despite the setback, the Salvation Army says it doesn’t want this year to look any different than last year, when the nonprofit provided toys to more than 6,000 children across the region.

“Kids all over Northeast Ohio can have a day where they receive something, or their parents feel like they can give them a gift provided by the Salvation Army,” Berkey said. “That really makes a difference.”

The Salvation Army is now asking community members to help by:

• Hosting a toy drive at a local business
• Buying toys through the Salvation Army’s Walmart Virtual Toy Registry at WalmartAngelTree.com
• Making a financial donation
• Adopting an “Angel” from the Angel Tree at a local Walmart, available November 14 through December 15
• Attending The Baldassarre Orchestra’s 3rd Annual Rock & Holiday Spectacular on December 12 at 7 p.m., where toy donations will be collected to benefit The Salvation Army in Greater Cleveland

The Salvation Army says it’s especially in need of good quality toys in the $20-to-$30 range.

“Every child deserves to feel that excitement on Christmas morning by seeing toys wrapped under the tree,” Ashcraft said.

To donate a toy to a child in need, visit WalmartAngelTree.com. To make a financial donation or learn more about The Salvation Army’s Greater Cleveland toy efforts, call 216-861-8185 or visit SalvationArmyCleveland.com.