Community replaces toys collected by 9-year-old

By Karen Woodmansee

Appeal Staff Writer

Businesses and individuals have come forward to replace toys collected by an 9-year-old Reno girl for Fernley flood victims.

Ashlee Smith, who also collected toys for children who were victims of the Angora Fire in South Lake Tahoe, began collecting for Fernley flood victims shortly after the Jan. 5 flood.

She raised a semi-truckload of toys to near capacity with the help of Wal-Mart and some other agencies, but earlier this week thieves broke into the truck and stole about half of the toys in the trailer, especially the high-tech ones.

"She was very discouraged at first, but we bounced back pretty good," said Erica Smith, Ashlee's mom. "I told her the community was good and we'd band together and I was right."

With the help of radio station KUUB-FM, Cub Country 94.5, the Smiths spent Thursday morning at the station raising more toys for the Fernley victims, and Ericka Smith said they collected even more than were stolen.

"We got a ton of response," she said. "We replaced all the toys that were stolen and then some."

Cub Country still will be collecting toys, gift cards and money, as will the Smiths, until March 22, when they will be delivered to the Cottonwood Elementary School in Fernley. Toys can be dropped off at the station, 2900 Sutro St. in Reno. For more information, call the station at 329-9261 or the Smiths at 527-2245.

The semi-truck holding the toys was burglarized Monday night as it was parked outside Custom Aire, 2205 Glendale Ave. in Sparks, where Ericka Smith works.

Many of the toys were purchased through donated Wal-Mart and Target gift cards, and Ericka Smith said the stores were advised thieves might try to return them for cash.

Ashlee, Ericka and dad Matt Smith, who is a Storey County firefighter, had collected donations of toys and money from customers at the Wal-Mart store in Spanish Springs last week, and were going to deliver the items to Cottonwood Elementary School in Fernley on March 22.

You Can Help

Drop donations off at:

• Cub Country Radio, 2900 Sutro St., Reno; 329-9261

• Custom Aire, 2205 Glendale Ave., Sparks; 527-2245

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 881-7351.