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ELKINS -- The local Toys for Tots campaign is currently collecting donations and accepting applications for its annual distribution of toys for children in Randolph County.
The deadline for families to apply for toys is Dec. 10. Those requests can be made at elkins-wv.toysfortots.org.
Toys will be collected through Dec. 19 and the distribution day for families picking up the toys will be Dec. 22 at the Phil Gainer Community Center in Elkins.
"Christmas is a season of joy, but for some folks, this season can be awfully difficult, especially for those with children," Toys for Tots Regional Coordinator Chris Lee told The Inter-Mountain. "Toys for Tots exists to help these families and to do our part to bring them joy."
Toy donation boxes locations are currently set up at Dollar General Stores across Randolph County, including at Walmart, Elkins Physical Therapy Service, Davis Medical Center, Randolph County Senior Center locations, Elkins City Hall, Cricket Wireless, Youth Health Services, Hair Graphics, Phil Gainer Community Center, Mt. Vernon 4H Club, MegaCorp Logistics, Freedom Bank of Elkins, Buckhannon Toyota and Buckhannon Bargain Box.
Toy donations can also be placed in a collection box in a retail store or at the Phil Gainer Community Center. Individuals and businesses may also host their own toy drive for the campaign.
Lee has offered to provide collection boxes for those wishing to participate and will pick up any donations someone may have. To contact Lee call 304-591-1410 or email him at clee@cityofelkinswv.com.
Monetary donations are also being accepted through the webpage or can be mailed to the Phil Gainer Community Center at 142 Robert E. Lee Ave. in Elkins. All monetary donations go toward purchasing toys for children in Randolph County. Checks should be made out to Toys for Tots.
"We expect to provide toys for over 800 children from the ages 2-13 this year," Lee said. "The Randolph County Family Resource Network has helped with this year's campaign and the Elkins Police Department will assist with toy distribution -- we really appreciate their help year after year.
"We also have a small group of volunteers that work hard for a couple weeks to make Christmas happen for these kids. We couldn't do this without them all."
Lee said that countless people play an integral role in making Toys for Tots happen, from the kind people who donate toys or provide monetary donations for the campaign, to the volunteers who do the shopping, sort the toys and build the boxes for each individual family.
"This is a huge undertaking that could not be done without the support of everyone who contributes to this campaign," Lee said. "I also want to thank Jennifer Lemons, who donates toys every year in memory of her daughter, Hannah Cook."