Marines of the local Marine Corps League, Detachment 1325 and volunteers serving Fayette, Coweta, Meriwether, and Heard counties are pleased to announce that the 2015 Fayette County Toys for Tots Drive is in full gear.
The first event this season was the 4th Annual Toys for Tots Kick-Off Classic Oct. 9 at Starr’s Mill High school during the football game between the McIntosh Chiefs and the Starr’s Mill Panthers. Subsequent events included the McIntosh Fall Festival where students raised $1,680 toward the local Toys for Tots campaign.
Marines and Toys for Tots volunteer representatives continue to collect money and toys at the local Walmarts in order provide toys to an anticipated 5,000-plus local children in need. In 2014 local Marines and volunteers distributed more than 17,000 toys valued in excess of $235,000 to nearly 5,000 children throughout Fayette County. This was done with an all-volunteer force comprised of members from our local Detachment of the Marine Corps League, community volunteers, and the generosity of local residents.
This year, more than 120 business and local government establishments have signed up to serve as official toy collection sites and will generate the bulk of the toys collected.
The Fayette Toys for Tots program began six years ago when the local Marine Corps League Detachment 1325 took over responsibility for the collection and distribution in Coweta and Fayette counties. Previously the program was run by a Marine Corps Reserve Unit that continues to serve the metro Atlanta area.
Collection boxes are available at all local Publix stores, all Piedmont Healthcare establishments, select businesses, all fire departments, and city offices.
Local businesses in Fayette County can assist by signing up to be toy drop site at newnan-ga.toysfortots.org. Marines and volunteers will continue collecting toys and donations outside the Peachtree City and Fayetteville Walmart stores until Dec 13. The local Toys R Us store is also serving as an official toy drop site. Please support our collection efforts and your local merchants at the specified sites.
Assistance with the Fayette Toys for Tots program can vary from volunteering or donating. In the past, families have sponsored toy drives and fund-raising drives at their Christmas or birthday parties.
School classrooms, businesses, and organizations can assist by selling the trademark Toys for Tots paper trains or serving as a designated toy collection site. Individuals or groups can also volunteer with the collecting of toys and donations at select storefronts, sorting toys at the warehouse, or transporting toys from the numerous collection sites at select stores.
Families can also support by partaking in the Christmas spirit and visiting the spectacular Christmas light displays at the Gaddys’ home at 898 Sandy Creek Road in Fayetteville, or “Mr. Christmas Lights” (Mr. Tom Langley) at 201 Felspar Ridge in Peachtree City. While there, they can drop off their toys or monetary donations, which support our local Toys for Tots drive. This year the Gaddys hosted their Toys for Tots grand opening night Dec. 4.
Volunteers can sign up to assist or receive more information by visiting fayettetoysfortots.com or newnan-ga.toysfortots.org. Emails can be directed to James Ruvalcaba at Fayettetoysfortots@hotmail.com.
