Recently nominated Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador Aiden Durst with his mom Beth (left), Deborah Oberlin, Toys for Tots Coordinator who nominated Aiden as ambassador (right), and his dad Eric (far right). (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL — The path to community service for East Liverpool High School Freshman Aiden Durst began with an essay written in fifth grade and a desire to help children in the area while carrying on his late grandfather’s legacy.

In 2022, Aiden along with the rest of his classmates wrote essays as part of a writing contest on if given $100, how they would spend it.

Aiden wrote in his essay that he would give the money to the U. S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program in honor of his grandfather Gunnery Sgt. Jame Rouse who served for 22 years and was active in the Toys for Tots program.

Aiden said his grandfather loved the Toys for Tots foundation, and it was his grandfather who inspired him to help Toys for Tots.

Aiden won that essay contest and for his prize Deborah Oberlin, local coordination officer for 11 counties for Toys for Tots, came to a school assembly and was presented with a $100 check for the Toys for Tots. This was the beginning of the Toys for Tots program at East Liverpool City Schools with the district serving as the official Toys for Tots distribution Center for Columbiana County.

“We started this in fifth grade. We started distributing toys to young people and I have been helping with it as much as I can even when I’m not there,” Aiden said. “I have unloaded the truck two times.”

Aiden, with assistance from his sister Emma, a junior at the school, and parents, Eric and Beth, has continued since being active participants in the Toys for Tots program.

Beth said that due to her father’s involvement in the program, they always donated as a family when she was growing up.

Due to his ongoing participation and desire to be involved with the program, Aiden was recently named as a youth ambassador for the Marine Corp Reserve Toys for Tots program.

Oberlin, who described Aiden as her quiet giant, said when she got the opportunity to pick a youth ambassador from any of the 11 counties she oversees, she knew right away her choice would be Aiden.

“This kid deserves recognition. This community deserves recognition with everything this area has gone through, we are like the little engine that could down here,” Oberlin said. “What can you do to help push us up, bring us up to another level, build excitement and get the community involved to help one another.”

Oberlin went on to say while people may think it’s just a toy they are giving, it’s so much more than toys they give out. They are helping to build self-esteem.

Aiden said being an ambassador means being someone who gives, someone who cares, and someone who gives to the community. He also said they give not take.

“When asked how it felt to be named a youth ambassador, he said “it feels great.

He said that being an ambassador means “being dedicated to what you do, to honor the organization and to really symbolize it.”

Oberlin said that she was only able to pick one student to serve as the youth ambassador from approximately 10,000 students.

Aiden said that makes him feel special, grateful and humble that he was picked over a bunch of students who also put in hard work. He feels more empowered to help now.

He also said that he feels “whenever you give back to your community you feel very great and that its just generosity and feeling empathy for others and to see a kid with a smile on their face just makes it all better,”

“We are proud of both of our kids,” Beth said. Beth noted that Aiden’s sister Emma helps him out and he is a good kid who is compassionate for other people,

“This prestigious recognition is awarded to young leaders across the nation who demonstrate exceptional commitment to serving children and families in need,” a media release from the district said.

The Youth Ambassador program is described as a program to honor young people who go above and beyond in their support of the Toys for Tots mission, with its ambassadors serving as representatives, advocates and stewards of the program and helping to enhance community outreach with youth-led projects.

“In this role, Aiden will continue to raise peer-group awareness, encourage youth involvement, and promote the powerful message of “children helping children,” the media release said.

Aiden has spent the past four years working to help develop this into a growing community outreach effort with his organization of donation drives, raising awareness and mobilizing peers and community members to support local families during the holiday season, the media release said.

“I have been telling people all around the school about Toys for Tots, people who need it more than others and just really spreading the word to get it out there,” Aiden said.

Aiden went on to say when talking to people about the program; he typically tells them what the foundation is and what they do and how they distribute toys.

“Aiden represents the very best of what it means to be a Potter. His compassion, initiative, and commitment to service have had a profound impact on our community,” Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig said. “We are incredibly proud of his achievements and grateful for the difference he continues to make.”

Aiden is currently working to gather donations by organizing a basketball toy drive game, where community members are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to the Dec. 5 home game against Steubenville will get free admission to the game. He is also working with Steubenville High School to See if they will participate in the toy donation campaign at the game as well.

Donation boxes will be placed throughout the district, and toy donations can be made at any of the East Liverpool City Schools buildings.

“This recognition is so well deserved. Aiden has consistently shown initiative beyond his years. His work with Toys for Tots embodies the spirit of service and community that we value so deeply in East Liverpool,” Megan Hoffrichter Hernandez, director of communications said. “As the holiday season approaches, East Liverpool City Schools encourages community members to join Aiden in spreading joy and hope to children throughout Columbiana County.

Oberlin said it has been a privilege and an honor for to work with a great kid like Aiden and that Aiden taking part in the ambassador program will benefit him though his learning of organization and communication skills, along with a whole host of other skillsets including real life skills. He also has an opportunity to try for a $25,000 scholarship, which his parents said will help as Aiden is looking forward to attending med school to be an anesthesiologist.

Any families in need of assistance can register at https://dellroy-oh.toysfortots.org

Toy distribution will be held Dec. 15 at Westgate Middle School Board of Education Conference Room from 3 to 5:30 p.m.