At roughly 467 miles away, a young man from Cordell has made a huge impact in the lives of others this Christmas. Nineteen-year-old Triston Jones, Cordell High School Class of 2021 and member of Odd-Fellows Pueblo Lodge #8, formed the first I.O.O.F Pueblo #8 Toy Drive; a tradition in the making that is sure to last for many years to come. After moving to Pueblo, CO to attend Paragon Culinary School Inc. in Manitou Springs, CO, Jones noticed a difference in the area and seized the opportunity to help others.
“After moving up into Pueblo, CO, it was a big change compared to a small town. This included more homeless people that were either trapped by drug abuse or dragged in by bad financial decisions. My father, John, convinced me into joining I.O.O.F (independent Order of Odd fellows) Pueblo lodge #8 in order to help the local community. Since my mom [Rachel Jones, Wookies Tattoo and Body Piercing] has done something similar for a good part of my life, it just felt right to pick up the torch and use it to spread goodwill and just help my fellow people,” stated Jones.
For the toy drive, Jones sought the help of local community members and businesses in regards to a simple donation or a new toy valued at a minimum of $10 to help children and families within the area. According to an I.O.O.F. Magazine article, Jones had received over 50 donations from across Pueblo over the course of several weeks. One item in particular was a complete child’s drum set. With the help of the other Brothers and Sisters of Pueblo lodge #8, over 75 toys were donated to Toys for Tots of Pueblo County. “It made me feel good giving people a chance to have a better Christmas. However, to just say ‘it made me feel good’ would be an understatement. Another member of our order made homeless bags. They had some snacks, clothes, body care items, all the stuff to keep people warm. So along with the toys being given out to families, we were also handing out supplies for anyone who needed it. I’d call it a success with how fast everything went, but it also shows that there are more people who needed either help or a Christmas. It’s hard sometimes, because doing this kind of thing shows you just how desperate/how bad things are getting, in general. Colorado has a huge homeless problem, and we actively try to help these people,” expressed Jones. Not only has Jones embodied the code of Odd Fellowship, but his kindly act has traveled and reached those of our local community.