2025 Toys for Tots
Officials distribute 209 Christmas boxes
The Inter-Mountain photos by Edgar Kelley Elkins Parks & Recreation’s Dylan Basil, left, and Elkins City Police Officer Tyler Knotts carry Christmas boxes filled with toys out of the Phil Gainer Community Center on Monday. The boxes were given to children as part of this year’s local Toys for Tots campaign.
Elkins Police Department dispatcher Steve Poage prepares to load a box of toys into the trunk of a car during Monday’s Toys for Tots distribution at the Phil Gainer Community Center.
The Inter-Mountain photos by Edgar Kelley Elkins Parks & Recreation’s Dylan Basil, left, and Elkins City Police Officer Tyler Knotts carry Christmas boxes filled with toys out of the Phil Gainer Community Center on Monday. The boxes were given to children as part of this year’s local Toys for Tots campaign.
Elkins Police Department dispatcher Steve Poage prepares to load a box of toys into the trunk of a car during Monday’s Toys for Tots distribution at the Phil Gainer Community Center.
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ELKINS -- Members of the Elkins Police Department distributed 209 Christmas boxes as part of this year's local Toys for Tots campaign Monday at the Phil Gainer Community Center.
As part of the 2025 toy drive, a total of 507 boxes were handed out this holiday season. Brownton Helping Hands in Barbour County received 285 boxes that were collected and distributed by the Elkins area Toys for Tots.
"Each child that received a box got at least three toys and a stocking stuffer inside of it," Toys for Tots Regional Coordinator Chris Lee told The Inter-Mountain this week. "That's been our goal every year since we started. We want to make sure these kids have an enjoyable Christmas."
The Elkins Police Department has been a big part of the campaign over the years, and Lee expressed his gratitude toward EPD volunteers that help with the program each December.
"They (Elkins Police Department) do such a good job every year." Lee said. "There's a lot of moving parts to the whole thing, and for them to be able to come in and handle the distribution, is an incredible service they provide."
This year the program served children between the ages of 2 and 12. Earlier this month, toy collection boxes were placed at businesses and organizations across Randolph County.
"The numbers are similar to last year, despite us not distributing gifts for 13-year-old kids this year," Lee said. "We served one less age group, but handed gifts out to the same number of kids."
The Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission oversees the local Toys for Tots program. Toy collection sites this year included: Big Timber Brewing, Clementine's Cantina, Davis Medical Center, Elkins City Hall, Edward Jones, Elkins Physical Therapy, Elkins-Randolph County YMCA, Freedom Bank, Hair Graphics, Phil Gainer Community Center, Mountain Gymnastics Academy, Randolph County Senior Center, and Youth Health Service.
"The community goes above and beyond for this campaign every year, and it was no different in 2025," Lee said. "We appreciate all the support and hopefully this program will continue to thrive for many years to come."
A job change has prompted Lee to step aside from his role as coordinator after this year, he said. Owen Peet, who is the Phil Gainer Community Center director, will serve as the local Toys for Tots coordinator moving forward.
For more information or to make a donation to the local Toys for Toys, visit Elkins-wv.toysfortots.org, or email Lee at chrisleewv@gmail.com.