SALISBURY — To celebrate his birthday last week, Richard Parnell decided he wanted to provide gifts for others.

Committed to helping children in need, he wanted to have a toy drive with people bringing donations to Gunpowder and Lead Clothing Boutique, LLC, which his wife Katie owns, and in return, receive a 20 percent discount on their purchase at the downtown Salisbury business.

This was the first time the family had undertaken a project like this, and when the toys came in, they were uncertain where to give them. Therefore, Katie said she reached out to her son’s baseball coach, Sgt. Tim Everett, who is with the Spencer Police Department, for assistance. He knew of children who could benefit from the donations and delivered the collected toys this week to a couple families in Rowan County.

Uncertain of the exact number of toys that came in, Katie did say the donation filled the back of her SUV. She noted that Everett was “super excited that we had reached out to them with the toys,” and was glad to receive them. 

While this is their first toy drive, Katie shared that they plan on continuing this each year and making it an annual tradition and to grow it.

“We hope for an even bigger turn out next year,” she said.

As people brought the toys in to be given away, Katie shared that each donor was super excited to be able to help the community and the Parnells were happy to help too as Katie said, “as long as they go to kids in need,” they were good with wherever they went.

She shared that they are “very grateful and very appreciative” to those who came by and donated toys.