Pat Robinson is the recipient of the January Volunteer of the Month Award, presented by the United Way & Volunteer Services. Her volunteerism generates smiles - hundreds of smiles - from children. Toys For Tots completed its third year with Robinson at the helm. Over 200 children from low income families received toys due to the community support and the hard work of Pat and her "Elves". The day before the distribution she questions if they will be ready for the event, then the children come in with their parents and thoughts are forwarding rapidly in how the process can be improved and buying items on sale for next year's Toys For Tots.

Giving away toys started at the Robinson dealership more than ten years ago when Ford Company initiated a toy give-away program. Pat became involved at the "eleventh hour" with that project about four years ago when the employee in charge had family health issues and was called away from work. At that time, the toys were designated for children attending Head Start. For the past three years, the program has expanded to children of low income families involved with numerous assistance programs in the community.

Just within three years, Pat has seen a shift in the community donations. The first year lots of toys and some money were donated. This past year more money than toys was donated. Robinson believes that people are more stretched for time but want to help the families; therefore they bring in their hard-earned money. Toys For Tots bring smiles to children receiving the toys AND ALSO warms hearts and attitudes of people donating. One woman brought in two brand new bikes - one pink and one blue - for young riders. She told Pat that she had been feeling "down" lately but after delivering the bikes she felt "great"!

Toys For Tots is not the only volunteer hours shared by Robinson. She also can be found for four hours every Monday at the Gift Shop at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital plus helping occasionally to fill in when another volunteer has to cancel. Her training talents are also shared with new volunteers learning the procedures of the Gift Shop. Throughout her eight years volunteer stint at the Gift Shop, she especially enjoys assisting the customers and having contact with the public in the "very nice environment".

Beadle Elementary School and Sacred Heart School are past beneficiaries of Pat's volunteer time when her children were in school. She and her daughter stepped in and served the lunch catered by HyVee at the Sacred Heart School when more assistance was needed. She has also delivered lunch to Meals On Wheels clients with other church members.

Pat Robinson has graciously shared her time, talents and treasures with this community for many years. Taking Toys For Tots under her wing to make Christmas very special for children has been a tremendous gift. Robinson's sharing and caring makes a difference in the Yankton community