JACKSON – Four-year-old Jordan Caloia was very excited as he awaited entry into Toyland but what youngster wouldn’t be? This marked the second holiday season that he came out to receive a teddy bear from Santa Claus.
Jordon was wearing a green shirt that sported a stegosaurus draped in holiday lights as he stood in the lobby with his mom, aunt and grandmother to take part in what is a special holiday tradition for many township residents.
For more than two decades, children and adults have enjoyed holiday magic through a trip to Toyland at the township’s Melvin Cottrell Center for Senior Citizens and the Disabled. The facility located at 45 Don Conner Boulevard gets transformed each season into multiple holiday themed rooms featuring costumed characters.
Approximately 2,000 visitors tour Toyland during the two-day weekend event which is a joint effort by the Salvation Army, senior center staff and around 100 volunteers including students from both high schools.
Senior Center Director Kate Slisky has enjoyed this event since she first came to head the facility in 2017. Over the years she has seen a few changes that have enhanced the experience. “It has become more elaborate this year,” Slisky said. Her husband John continues to make sure Santa Claus arrives for the event.
A pair of grannies greet attendees just beyond Santa Claus’s chair. They wear special period attire. The grannies have their own cupboard area and are played by volunteers Noemi Ortz and Sally Treanry.
Slisky said, “they’ve been part of our Toyland, I would say, forever. Long before I came seven years ago. They have been grannies before.”
“Wherever we need them, they go,” Slisky added.
“We enjoy the kids’ faces,” Ortiz said. “Last year I was on the other side with Santa.”
“It is very nice,” Treanry said. “My only complaint is that I think they should have this two weekends in a row because this is a lot to set up and it is beautiful and more people could enjoy it.”
Another long-time volunteer is Peggy Kolowicz. Her granddaughter was a volunteer last year. “I love this,” she said. She serves as a greeter as adults and children enter the various rooms.
“When the kids walk through the door, its magic,” she said. “I’ve been doing it for 10 or 12 years. I brought my grandchildren here when they were little and my grandson just got married.
Slisky said the Salvation Army have always been supportive of the center and that they have been focusing on helping the homeless. “They provide the free teddy bears that the children receive. We also give the children a cookie and juice when they come through the door and visit our rooms.”
“The Salvation Army provides us 1,500 teddy bears which means we have over 1,500 outfits (that are made by volunteers from the seniors at the center) that are available for purchase,” Slisky said.
Slisky added that “we have the Jackson Memorial High School Art Club doing the face painting and the tattooing and Jackson Liberty High School’s Interact Club has 50 students in costume.”
Those volunteers took part in various roles of popular characters ranging from superheroes, to elves, Rudolph, and Disney movie characters. Slisky also credited the help of the township’s Department of Public Works employees who assist each year and her staff member Kristine Jackson who she described as “the driving force behind Toyland. I am her lieutenant but she is the general.”
The visit to Toyland allows for a time to mingle and for children and the center’s senior volunteers to socialize. “It really brings us together as a community,” Slisky added. “Every year gets a little better. With inflation being so bad families are looking for something fun and this is free. We also sell a hotdogs and pretzels for a dollar.”
A popular feature is the miniature train room which features train sets that are laid out in a massive winter mountain display. Craig Brownfield, a township resident, is the long-time conductor of that room. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years.”
He showed off several of his new conductor hats. Three of the train sets are his while another is for the display. “It takes about three days to set up.”
As for little Jordan, he had a wonderful time and received another teddy bear from Santa Claus. He also spotted a volunteer costumed as a teddy bear walking around during the event. His mother Maria Caloia said other family members would be joining them during the morning.
She said her favorite part of the experience “is seeing how excited the children get. I love everything here, all the decorations and the various stations they set up for the kids. This is a nice new family tradition.”
