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Devon Boulay, co-owner of A2Z Science and Learning Toy Store in Northampton, carries a box of toys being donated to Way Finders. Jessye and Danny Deane, co-owners of F45 Training, and members of their gym sponsored a toy drive with A2Z that will go to families in need through Way Finders. -
Megan Pete, the director of development at Way Finders, opens her car door while Jessye and Danny Deane, co-owners of F45 Training, carry out boxes of toys from A2Z Science and Learning Toy Store. The Deanes and members of their gym sponsored a toy drive with A2Z that will go to families in need through Way Finders. -
Rachel Cullington, manager at F45 Training, Jessye Deane, co-owner of F45 Training, Megan Pete, the director of development at Way Finders, Devon Boulay, co-owner of A2Z Science and Learning Toy Store in Northampton, and Danny Deane, co-owner of F45 Training, with boxes of toys from A2Z Science and Learning Toy Store.
NORTHAMPTON — She’s making a list and checking it twice.
When business owner Jessye Deane found out that Way Finders, the Springfield nonprofit that builds affordable housing throughout the region, needed a new Santa Claus after it lost its biggest national toy donor for an annual giving program the organization runs each Christmas, she knew her local community would have to save Christmas for the many families who have come to rely on the program.
Deane, owner F45 Training Hampshire Meadows in Hadley and F45 Training Riverdale in West Springfield, often asks the boxing gym members to donate to local nonprofits. As patrons of a local small gym themselves, Deane said the members are very giving, and their generosity has helped F45 Training support upward of 70 local nonprofits.
“This is what makes our community so special. The way nonprofits and for-profits come together to make sure everyone in the community has their needs met,” Deane said.
She had elves, but now she needed a workshop.
Enter A2Z Science & Learning Toy Store. The Northampton small business was finishing its second toy drive on Dec. 15 for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program when Deane reached out to store owners André and Devon Boulay. They agreed to supply toys for the drive and showed Deane how to how to curate an online registry.
“It felt like it was a really good cause, and [Deane] felt very nice and sincere,” Devon Boulay said. “Clearly she’s very generous when it comes to helping local families, so it was easy to say yes.”
Within 24 hours, F45 Training sponsored enough toys and gift cards for 75 children for Way Finders’s shelters in Hampshire and Hampden counties. Each child will receive two toys from A2Z Science, which promptly prepared the toy order within a week of Deane’s pitch.
“We’re so grateful. When I spoke with Jessye, she went beyond what our initial conversation was,” Way Finders Director Megan Pete said. “She took it to a whole new level of partnering with A2Z and A2Z was just as excited to partner with Way Finders.”
Deane said she first heard about Way Finders’ need for toys from a boxing member who works at the nonprofit. She reached out to Pete, who sent a list of 52 children in the shelters with their names, genders and ages. Deane personally matched gifts to each individual child.
Once Santa’s list was finished, Deane spread the word about the toy drive. The boxing instructors announced the fundraiser at the beginning of each boxing session. Members then signed up to sponsor toys for one child, and Deane billed their account.
“It’s a win-win if we can help make sure Santa stops by on the shelter on Christmas morning and we can help support a local business, that’s the best of the holidays right there,” she said.
Between the two gyms, members sponsored all the children in 24 hours. Boxers who were beaten to the punch asked if they could donate $20 gift cards to the older children, which is how Deane’s list grew within the 24-hour toy drive.
Boulay, however, had no problem meeting Deane’s order. Since Deane already created the registry, Boulay said all she had to do was pull the toys. The store contributed to the gift drive by donating 70 yo-yos from their yo-yo drive.
“We’re kind of a spontaneous toy store. We just go with whatever comes our way to help. If a family has an emergency, we’re willing to help as quickly as possible,” Boulay said.
Way Finders distributed the toys to shelter staff on Wednesday along with wrapping paper. The parents in the shelter will get together and wrap their child’s gifts, which Pete said is “meaningful to the parents to be involved in giving the gift to the children as well.”
Deane hopes to continue to inspire other local businesses to support the community.
“I’m hopeful that if other businesses see this, they might be able to replicate something similar because I want to make sure we’re channeling the holiday business to impact families and support small businesses,” Deane said.
Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.
