Toys for Tots and Teens

Celebrating Over 36 Christmases!

"It is so humbling to think a small Ranger truck could make such a difference!"

- Toys for Tots and Teens founder Suzie Palmer Weber

Palmer Auto Service LLC has begun collecting donations of gift cards and new unwrapped toys for the annual Toys for Tots and Teens toy drive during Hometown Holiday. The smallest gift can mean the world to a child or teen who needs help. 

The toys and gift cards are taken to Faith in Action (FIA) in Chelsea and distributed to area children. Donations of gift cards can be dropped in Palmer’s secure key drop box and new unwrapped toys can be placed inside a contactless collection box outside of Palmer Auto Service located at 222 South Main Street.

The History of Toys for Tots and Teens

When Suzie Palmer Weber returned to Chelsea, MI, after living in Los Angles, CA, she was committed to making a difference in the Chelsea community. 

The catalyst to start Toys for Tots and Teens began when her father George Palmer came home with a story he had heard at a Kiwanis meeting. A fellow member, John Mitchell, was called out to a home to discuss funeral arrangements for a young father. While the family had a house, they had no heat, and the refrigerator and stove did not work. When the man collapsed, his wife wrapped him in her only coat until the ambulance arrived. John learned her coat had been cut apart while the medics were attending her husband. 

Inspired to help, Suzie and her family began brainstorming ways they could help others in need in Chelsea. Suzie's husband, Biff Weber, had a flyer from another Ford dealer in the Detroit area that was doing a canned food drive in the bed of a pickup truck. Her mom Donna Palmer grabbed the flyer and crossed out "canned food drive" and wrote "toy drive." They replicated the flyer and listed a color TV drawing with a donation.

Soon after, Suzie was introduced to Jackie Riethmiller of Chelsea Social Services (before Faith-in-Action). In 1988, their program helped more than 25 families with children aged 12 and under. At the time, children over 12 years of age did not qualify for aid. Suzie thought they deserved presents too, and the name "Toys for Tots and Teens" was born. 

"I wanted people to think of the kids that are 12 and older. These kids are being forced to grow out of their childhood and into adulthood faster than most. Whether they believe in Santa or not, someone somewhere cares about them," said Suzie. "We also did not want to conflict with the national Marine Corps program of Toys for Tots. Our donations were collected by locals and were to stay in the area."

Since the very first year, the Toys for Tots and Teens drive covered the needs in Chelsea. The Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce helped spread the word to local members. 

"Our goal for 1989 was to fill a Ranger pickup truck. I was scared we'd never fill up a small Ranger. It didn't take long before we graduated to four full-size F-150 pickup trucks - full of toys ready to drive down the street to Faith-in-Action."

When Chelsea Social Services merged with Faith-in-Action, the Toys for Tots and Teens program grew as well. The Director, Nadine Shaneyfelt, made sure the toys made it to those who needed them throughout the community. She loved the inclusion of teen kids and made sure those items were readily available to the families when they came in. Soon the services in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Jackson areas knew to call on Faith in Action for the donation "overflow."

Next to participate were the Chelsea school kids. Second-grade and third-grade teachers from North Creek and South Meadows elementary schools walked their students to Palmer Ford to put their donations into the truck. Students would explore a small village display, complete with its very own dinosaur! 

"I remember when Tami Gillingham, a third-grade teacher, climbed right into that truck to show the kids the toys already donated. That inspired us to have the kids climb up in the truck for a class picture." Soon all the schools were participating in the program, and Toys for Tots and Teens was used in place of elementary classroom gift exchanges and as service projects at both Beach Middle School and the high school.

"For years we drove trucks around town to pick up toys. I can't thank those businesses enough for all they gathered and donated. Jiffy outdid themselves every year. The volunteers at Faith-in-Action are obviously elves; they are amazing. My dad and husband basically allowed business at Palmer Ford to slow down for three weeks."

When Palmer Motor Sales, Inc closed in 2009, Suzie figured the program was done. Bob Mock opened Palmer Auto Service just one week after the dealership closed and has kept Toys for Tots and Teens alive for over a decade.

Much appreciation to Suzie Palmer Weber and Biff Weber for all that they gave to the Chelsea community!

In March 1998, Suzie and Biff Weber were honored by Faith-in-Action's Humanitarian Awards.

In May, 1999, they attended the Governor's Service Awards Program, having been nominated by Principal Lucy Stieber.