This Saturday Toys for Tots in Labette County will have a special truck drive at Walgreens. The goal is to gather stuffed animals and toys for kids in need.
“We have consistently helped about 800 children in Labette County,” said county Toys For Tots coordinator Ben Cochran, to ParsonsSun. They manage the local Toys for Tots for the past four years.
Their campaign goes through December 16th. But their first delivery is on December 10th, so they need donations soon.
This is why they organize a Fill The Truck event at the local Walgreens parking lot. The event starts at 10 AM and goes on until 2 PM. “We’re going to try to fill a truck with toys. KLKC will be broadcasting live for a while and there will be an appearance from Santa as well,” Cochran said.
Mission to help others
“The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted,” the organization’s website states. “The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.”
You can also donate new, unwrapped toys at many locations throughout the county. They include banks, stores and many more.
There are also a lot of side events. There’s a raffle for a 32-inch TV at The Corner Store in Altamont. Tickets are $1.
Also, there will be a Santa’s Landing at 3318 Southern from Dec. 11 to Dec. 18. “We are definitely trying to get everyone involved,” Cochran said. “Our program doesn’t work without participation of people in the county. We are working hard to fill requests for presents. Every penny raised stays in Labette County and 100 percent of the money collected goes buy presents. My wife and I don’t take any funding off the top to pay for overhead. We cover those ourselves.”
Anyone who would rather give a monetary donation can make checks payable to Toys for Tots and mail them to P.O. Box 256, Altamont, KS 67330. “We will be distributing toys on five dates, Dec. 10, 11, 14, 17 and 18,” Cochran said.
