Fraternity hands out toys, treats, flu shots at North Side holiday event
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Hassan Shariff hit just about every store.
Walmart. Target. Ollie’s. Gabriel’s. Big Lots.
“Wherever sells toys, that’s where I go,” he said.
Shariff was responsible for buying hundreds of toys for the annual holiday event hosted by the Iota Phi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
It was held Saturday at Anderson Manor on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Shariff expected to serve at least 500 families between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition to providing a toy to every child that attended, volunteers also gave out books, holiday decorations for the parents, hot chocolate and photos with Santa.
In addition, Rivers Casino distributed hams, turkeys, scarves and hats, while Highmark was there to provide flu shots and covid-19 boosters.
Melissa Twyman took her 2-year-old grandson, Vontay, to the event.
“I think it’s beautiful,” she said. “It’s our people. It’s inspiring.”
The fraternity brothers have been hosting the annual event since 1994, Shariff said.
“Especially with the pandemic, it seems to have intensified the need,” he said. “It helps families have a good holiday.
“It’s not just the kids. It’s helping the families.”
Volunteers at the event try to match the children and their ages with appropriate gifts.
“I try to get quality toys,” Shariff said. “We do a lot of fundraising.”
This year, hot items included headphones, drones, Black Panther figures, and remote-control cars.
“We want the kids to be excited.”
Shariff, who chaired this year’s event, is an art teacher at Manchester Academic Charter School. He was excited when one of his students came through.
“This one’s different,” he said to the person handing out toys. “She’s an artist.”
He made sure the 8-year-old got one of the art sets they had.
Jack Taylor, who was a fraternity member at West Virginia State and did graduate work at Marshall, dressed as Santa for pictures on Saturday.
It was his sixth year in that role.
“It feels good giving back to the community,” he said.