By Matt Chandler
mchandler@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1654

It's that time of year when the spotlight is especially bright on Western New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet.

With the onset of the holiday season, many families are focused on how they are going to put food on the table at Thanksgiving and presents under the Christmas tree. Locally, there are two groups working to address the latter.

Attorney Michael Stuermer of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria has collected toys for the needy in recent years and 2011 marks the second year he will be working in collaboration with the Salvation Army. Toys collected for babies through age 12, in particular, are for the organization's Toy Shop in downtown Buffalo. Eligible families can come there and select two toys per child from the shop.

With lots of worthwhile charities in the region, how did Stuermer choose the Salvation Army as his charity of choice?

"For me, it came down to knowing what a great organization the Salvation Army is," he said. "Then, when I reached out to them, they were very receptive."

In his first year operating the program, he sought donations from family, friends and colleagues. The response was incredible, he said.

"As you can imagine, when the topic is toys for families in need, everybody seems to want to help," he said. "The response last year wasn't surprising, but it was great."

As for this year's drive, Stuermer said, "Well, there is no goal per se in terms of how many toys I collect. But I have definitely reached out to more people and tried to get a little more creative."

Despite the pressures of his law career, family obligations and other commitments, he said he still finds time to help with the annual toy drive.

"The holidays should be some of the most special times in a child's life, and the thought of any child not having a toy at Christmas ... That's enough motivation for me to try and do something to change that," he said.

Across town, the Minority Bar Association of Western New York is hard at work on its own toy drive.

Attorney Jennifer Kimura, vice president, said members wanted to choose a local school that would benefit. After much consideration, they decided to partner with Pinnacle Charter School.

The association donated toys to approximately 200 students from kindergarten through second grade.

"We are asking people in the community, friends, anyone who can help out, to consider donating a toy," Kimura said.

"We set a price range of $10 to $15 so that the kids all get similar gifts, and you have no idea the difference even that one small gift will make for these children.

"One of our missions as a bar is to help the local community beyond just giving legal referrals," she added. "So it is important for us to give back to the community any way that we can. This is a great chance to do that."

Minority Bar President Joseph Hanna said the tremendous need among the students touched his members and they were compelled to reach out and help.

"Over 90 percent of the students at Pinnacle Charter School live at or below the poverty level," he said.

"We saw this gift drive as a chance to really make an impact and bring joy to some of the kids in our community who need it most."

Jessica Bedell, meanwhile, is school counselor at Pinnacle Charter School.

She said this is the first time an outside organization offered to make such a donation, and the staff and administrators are ecstatic.

"Joe is going to come into each classroom and talk with the kids and present the toys," Bedell said.

School officials are trying to keep the special delivery a surprise.

"It is just incredible that they are willing to do this for our students," Bedell said. "When I heard about it, I was truly speechless."

Hanna, meanwhile, said his firm, Goldberg Segalla LLP, donated hundreds of dollars in toys to kick-start the program.

Now he hopes other local organizations follow suit and give back to the community - and not just now at holiday time but year-round.

"We've got so many talented, creative and generous people here. All of us need to step up and show the world that we are dedicated to making our community better for all of us," he said.

"That's a big part of what the Minority Bar Association of Western New York is all about, and it's also a big part of being from Buffalo."