By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Second-grader Karlvellis Irby, 9, didn't expect her favorite toy, a Bionicle, to be among the 440 distributed at Washington Park Elementary School, Over-the-Rhine, Friday. But it was and she was all smiles.

Washington Park Elementary School teacher Erin Coley hugs Fantashia Ruffafter after the toy giveaway. (Ernest Coleman photos) | ZOOM |

"This is what I wanted," she said as she clenched the toy. "I like this. This is great."

She was among the students receiving toys distributed by volunteers of Hope Worldwide, a faith-based charity, and employees of Convergys.

The volunteers went to 23 classrooms Friday afternoon, giving out gloves, hats, games, skateboards, checkerboards and you name it, they had it.

The toy distribution was part of a holiday toy drive to distribute toys to children in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Steffi Gilbertson, local director of Hope Worldwide, said toys collected in the drive will be distributed through 11 community organizations and schools.

Convergys employees collected money for the toys through the company's annual holiday drive. They purchased the toys at Johnny's Toys in Latonia last week.

Troy Holiday, 5, and his brother Trey, 6, get ready to leave with their new toys. | ZOOM |

"We had to rent a 17-foot U-Haul truck to carry the gifts," said Steve Reis, coordinator of the holiday toy drive at Convergys at Sixth and Vine streets, downtown.

Mr. Reis, a reference data analyst, said his company has been involved with the drive six years.

"We ordinarily raise funds and collect toys for charity," he said. "We were a company with a pile of money looking for a charity and Hope Worldwide was a charity looking for money. The match was perfect."

He said Convergys employees conducted fund-raisers, bake sales and raffles.

"Just about every employee here participated," Mr. Reis said.

"We had more than 100 volunteers working with us in Cincinnati on this year's holiday toy drive," Ms. Gilbertson said. "We have distributed 2,562 toys."

She said the 11 agencies helping to distribute the toys are the Babies Milk Fund, Lincoln Heights Health Care Center, Fay Community Center, Positive Beginning, the Single Moms Program at UC's Raymond Walters branch, the Immunization Action Program, Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Deer Park schools, Washington Park Elementary School, Cross Roads and SUMA.

E-mail ahoward@enquirer.com