Brotherly Love: Retiree Buys Dozens of Toys for Salvation Army
By Jessica Dean
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This December, CBS3 is asking for your help to make the holidays happy for thousands of children. We call it the Joy of Sharing Toy Fest. Even a single toy helps. We talked to a retiree who gives way more than one.
Paul Wilmer is a quiet Santa, dropping off toys at the Salvation Army on Broad Street. He brings basketballs and footballs, race cars and dolls.
Everything under the tree was donated by him, 82 toys in all. He spent part of Thanksgiving hitting the sales.
"It wasn't fun standing in those lines, but it was fun after I got everything together," Paul said.
Paul worked with children for years as a school bus driver, until he turned 60.
"I started having strokes," Paul said. "Of course I couldn't keep driving buses, so I had to take early retirement."
No matter the hardship, Paul considers himself blessed. So for 11 years, he has been buying toys for the Salvation Army. CBS3 is collecting toys for the Salvation Army through our Joy of Sharing Toy Fest.
Philip Ferreira, the Salvation Army's director of operations, said, "There always seems to be people sometimes, through no fault of their own, who find themselves in very difficult situations, and Lord knows it's never the children's fault."
The Salvation Army's goal this season: help 18,000 children. The dozens of toys Paul brings each year help.
"I think Paul is an incredibly generous man," Philip said. "Simply by providing a toy for Christmas Day, that means the world."
"I'm fortunate to be in the position that I am," Paul said. "I know some other people that aren't as fortunate, but everybody can give something. And if you can't, pray for them. This world needs a lot of prayer."
To drop off a toy for the Joy of Sharing Toy Fest, find locations at www.CBSPhilly.com/ToyFest.
