CLEVELAND —A father and a community work during the holiday season to help others to keep the memory of a daughter alive.
“She loved Christmas. Decorating with her mom, with my wife Sarah, at my mom’s house, she has her own tree at everyone’s house. She loved it. It was definitely her favorite time of year,” said Kurt Schneider of his daughter, Olivia.
Schneider said Olivia always wanted to help others.
“Her idea was to do a toy drive and she came up with that, I would say, about two weeks before she passed,” he said.
In November 2018, Olivia and her mother were killed. The community wanted to keep Olivia’s dream alive.
“Without the community’s help, and them donating and collecting what they have, this wouldn’t even be possible,” said Schneider.
With the help of Mayfield schools and a few local fire departments, Schneider started a nonprofit organization called Olivia’s Dream. Shortly after her death, they started a Toys for Tots drive.
“It turned into Cleveland Heights donated, Elyria was donating, Lakewood fire donated, I have a buddy who’s a police person out in Hawaii and we got toys from Hawaii. It just kind of snow balled with technology and the internet,” said Highland Heights Fire Lt. Kevin Madger, a longtime friend of Schneider.
Madger played a large role in getting departments from all over to pitch in.
“It’s an honor to help out the community and what it means to him and his family,” he said.
During the past two years, Olivia’s Dream has collected more than 13,000 items for Toys for Tots.
“I think she would be crazy excited and just amazed that a vision that she had. So many people got behind to make it such a big success,” said Schneider.
This year, especially because of the pandemic, Schneider wants to gather even more toys, so he’s expanding the drive from the east side of Cleveland to the west side as well.
“This year has taken on an added meaning for the parents that need help providing a good Christmas or holiday season for their children,” he said.
Before she passed, Olivia made a painting of a rainbow and wrote “be kind... And your world will be like a rainbow.”
That’s the core mission behind the organization: kindness.
“They’re not jaded, you know, like an adult can be. They’re so pure and kind and nice and all they want to do are good things for other people. Hence, the toy drive and the success we’ve had with it. It’s just a young kid’s message. Be kind,” said Schneider.
Olivia’s Dream is collecting toys until Dec. 11 at the following locations:
- Precision Financial Solutions in Lyndhurst
- Health 360 in Mayfield
- Verde Salon in Highland Heights
- Kiddie Company in Lyndhurst
- Scalpers Bar and Grille in Lyndhurst
- Michael Christopher Salon in Highland Heights
- Lyndhurst City Hall
- Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood
- Village Trends Boutique in Chesterland
- Village Trends Boutique in Chardon
- Gates Mills Community House
- Impact Nutrition in Willoughby
- Highland Heights Fire Department
- Richmond Heights Fire Department
- Mayfield Village Fire Department
- Payne & Payne Renovations and Design in Chesterland
- Lakewood Plant Co. in Legacy Village
- University Hospitals MICU
- W.O. Walker Center in Cleveland
- Club Pilates in Westlake
- Valley Riding Inc. in Cleveland
- 50 Shades of Polish in Westlake
- Lakewood Plant Co. in Lakewood
- Fetch & Co. in Lakewood
- Milo & Me in Lakewood
- Terminal Ready Mix in Lorain
- Cocky’s Bagels in North Olmsted
- The Goddard School of Westlake
- Holy Family Hospice & Home Care in Parma
- Cap & Corks in Lakewood
- Cap & Corks in North Olmsted
- Green Opal Salon in Cleveland
- Lakewood Garden Center in Cleveland
- Emerald Village Senior Living in North Olmsted
- Urban Planting Company in Cleveland
- Home for the Holidays Pop Up in Lakewood
- Brewnuts in Cleveland