Toys for Tots set to make holidays brighter for local youth
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ELKINS -- The local Toys For Tots campaign is in full gear this holiday season as volunteers prepare to distribute toy boxes to local families at the Phil Gainer Community Center on Thursday
"The deadline for family applications was on Dec. 10 and as of Monday we've collected all the collection boxes," Toys for Tots Regional Coordinator Chris Lee told The Inter-Mountain on Tuesday. "We'll finish up sorting all the donated toys, all the toys purchased with monetary donations, and all the toys sent by the Toys for Tots foundation. From there we'll start building the boxes of toys for each individual family."
Like in the past, the Elkins Police Department will be on hand to distribute the boxes to families who applied and were selected for the program. Approved applicants with last names A through G will pick up their toys from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Those with last names H though M will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those with last names N though Z will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The program will distribute toy boxes to 715 children in Randolph County this year. An additional 180 boxes will go to the Brownton Helping Hands Toy Drive in Barbour County which the local Toys for Tots also supports.
"We've collected a little over 2,000 toys from the collection bins in the region this year," said Lee. "Collection bins were located in Elkins WalMart and all Dollar Generals in Randolph County. Many businesses and organizations hosted their own toy drives that were very successful as well."
Lee said that Toys for Tots wanted to send a special thank you to the following organizations and businesses for hosting toy drives to support Toys for Tots this holiday season: Physical Therapy Service, Davis Medical Center, Randolph County Senior Center, Elkins City Hall, Cricket Wireless, Youth Health Services, Hair Graphics, Mt. Vernon 4H Club, MegaCorp Logistics, Freedom Bank, SKY106.5, Buckhannon Toyota, Buckhannon Bargain Box, and Jen Kesling State Farm.
"This campaign is primarily driven through donations and we want to thank every single person who put a toy in a collection bin or brought toys to the Phil Gainer Community Center," said Lee. "We also want to thank everyone who wrote a check to support the campaign. Because of your kindness to donate, there will be over 800 kids in the area with big 'ol Christmas morning smiles. That's pretty awesome."
Lee said the toy distribution would not be possible if not for the help from many individuals and organizations in the community.
"This is quite an undertaking and we've got some great helpers to make this thing go smoothly," said Lee. "I'd like to give a special thanks to Questie Reams from Allegheny Highlands Parents as Teachers and crew, Owen Peet, Elliot White, Cindy and Ariella Brown, Jenna Lee, Teresa Birk and all the gentlemen at the Elkins Police Department for helping to run a smooth campaign year after year."
Lee said that the organization accepts monetary donations throughout the year and any funds taken in until the end of the month will go toward next year's campaign.
"We collected $5,500 during the 2021 campaign that we purchased toys with this year," said Lee. "It would be great to match that number moving into next year's campaign."
Checks should be made out to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and mailed to the Phil Gainer Community Center at 142 Robert E. Lee Ave. EXT Elkins, WV 26241. Donations can also be made on our campaign website elkins-wv.toysfortots.org. All monetary donations stay local and benefit the Randolph County campaign.