BAINBRIDGE – Rock in the Park organizers presented a Chenango County Toys for Tots representative with a check for $7,300 Wednesday, money was raised during the 2nd annual Rock in the Park music extravaganza, which took place on August 10. The cash will be used to buy toys for local Chenango County children who otherwise might be subjected to a toyless Christmas.
The money donated from this month’s fundraiser represents the single largest donation of its kind to the local charity and is double that raised during last year’s Rock in the Park fundraiser.
“For the economy being depressed and for Erica and Jason to be able to accomplish this, it’s a testimony to the community,” said Chenango County Toys to Tots’ Roger Barnhart, a 28-year veteran of the organization who has served in any number of capacities, from operating collection boxes at shopping malls to whatever grunt work is needed.
Barnhart explained how the program truly belongs to the community. While a few organizers lend Toys for Tots a face, they are in many ways simply facilitators of the peoples’ will. As Barnhart explains it, if individuals did not want to spread the joy of Christmas, did not want to ensure disenfranchised youths were not robbed the glory of unwrapping gifts on a snowy Christmas morning, then the kids simply wouldn’t be able to.
“The program belongs to the community and it’s nice to have that kind of trust,” said Barnhart of his role in organizing the charity. “The program is their program.”
Though Toys for Tots does benefit from large national corporations, such as Toy R’ Us, the Chenango County chapter has become beholden to the efforts of Erica and Jason Hall who – for a second year in a row – have managed to organize a phenomenal fundraiser. The couple outclassed themselves this year, raising a little over twice what they did last year. Even so, they are already working on making next year’s Rock in the Park even more spectacular.
“I am always looking to get big name bands,” said Hall, who has extensive contacts in the music industry due to his work as Director of Sponsorship Sales at Tioga & Vernon Downs Casino. Although other bands are being considered, Hall is currently in talks with the famous Southern rock ensemble, The Marshall Tucker Band.
The Halls are also looking into establishing a full non-for-profit fundraiser for Toys for Tots. Doing so will expedite the donation process and might possibly convince larger businesses on the fence about helping children out and into contributing. They are also interested in adding more kid-orientated activities for the 2014 Rock in the Park, as well as bringing back the 32 vendors who participated during this year’s event. And while some minor features of the event may be tweaked, for Hall the most important detail to attend to which will ensure the success of 2014’s event is securing yet another fantastic headliner. There will, of course, also be local talent in the line-up though, said Hall, emphasizing that will never change.