When Justin Schultz opened his first tattoo shop in downtown Jeannette in 2012, a Toys for Tots representative stopped by right around this time of year to drop off a donation box.
“I thought, ‘It’s such a little box,’ so we had the idea to do an annual fundraiser and just kept rolling with it,” said Schultz, a Jeannette native.
Since then, Schultz has moved Graveside Tattoo to Route 130 in Penn Township, and artists from his business have raised more than $18,000 over the years for Toys for Tots.
In previous years, Graveside artists would auction their artwork and tattoo sessions during a fundraiser at Johnny’s Wife’s Place. For the first time, Graveside artists this year will sell tattoos at the shop for the fundraiser.
Schultz said he also prefers to purchase toys for a slightly older demographic.
“If you look in the donation boxes, most of the time it’s toys for little kids,” he said. “But you don’t see stuff for kids in sort of the 11-to-14-year-old age group, so we go out and buy art supplies, sports equipment, skateboards, that sort of thing.”
This year’s fundraiser will be Dec. 7 at the shop, 2090 Route 130, Penn Township. All proceeds go to purchase Toys for Tots.
Families wishing to sign up to receive Toys for Tots this holiday season can do so in the following locations in Westmoreland County:
- Westmoreland Mall (upper-level Center Court): 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8
- Calvary Church Preschool, 8653 Pennsylvania Ave., Irwin: 4-6 p.m. Dec. 7; 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 8
- Cook Township Community Center, Route 711, Stahlstown: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 11
Families must receive some type of public assistance to qualify. Children up to age 12 are eligible (although support in some communities extends up to age 16), and birth certificates must be provided along with the child’s Social Security card. ID is required.
For more on local Toys for Tots distribution, see Jeannette-PA.ToysforTots.org.
For more about the Dec. 7 fundraiser, see Graveside-tattoo-piercing.business.site, or call 724-374-5058.
