By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
December 3, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Four years ago, Sarah Breitstein used what resources she had to do something good for the community.

What did she have? One of the community’s most beloved bar and grills in her pocket.

That’s when she started a toy drive at Moretina’s Caddy Shack Pizza, 700 E 3rd St., where she’s worked for almost 10 years.

“I just wanted to start doing something good,” Breitenstein said.

For the first three years of the toy drive, toys would be donated to Safe Haven Shelter and Newhouse. This year, she said she’s adding a third shelter, Rose Brooks Center, to the mix. Last year, she said she must have delivered about 20 large garbage bags filled with toys to the shelters.

“I never thought it was going to get this big,” Breitenstein said. “It keeps growing every year because we have a very loyal, generous customer base who are generous at spreading the wealth around the holidays.”

Toys, or donations, are collected at the Caddy Shack until Friday, Dec. 12, the night of the pizza parlor’s annual Christmas party. Breitenstein said they’re looking for toys for all ages, from infants to teenagers. People can even purchase gifts or household items for mothers in the shelters.

“If people just buy raffle tickets, we’ll use that money to buy stuff as well,” Breitenstein said.

If you donate a toy, you receive five raffle tickets. If you’d like to just buy raffle tickets, they are three for $5 or eight for $10. The Christmas party begins at 5 p.m. with a free food buffet and lasts until 3 a.m. The raffle takes place around 10 p.m. with the grand prize recipient winning a pizza party for up to 15 people at Caddy Shack. Breitenstein said other prizes include restaurant gift certificates and gift baskets.