Help us with Toys for Tots this year

To the Editor:

The Toys for Tots program is 75-years-old this year. This is the first year this program has ever distributed toys to the Fairmont area. The Fairmont VFW, American Legion and Martin County Veterans Memorial Committee are sponsoring this Marine Corps Reserve endeavor.

When I volunteered to help coordinate this project, I did not realize how great the need is in our community. To date we have 275 children signed up but have only collected 264 toys and $1,125.24. All monies collected will be spent on the children.

Time is of the essence. We separate and get toys ready for distribution on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9, and distribute them to the families in need on Dec. 10. We need volunteers to help separate the toys from 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 9 and for distributing them from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The Toys for Tots trailer will be at the Fairmont HyVee parking lot from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Five Lakes Centre in Fairmont. Toys are also being collected daily at all Fairmont banks, Tractor Supply, LiveFit, Walgreen’s, Sterling Drug, HyVee, Fareway and Bomgaar’s.

We are in desperate need of gifts for teenage boys and girls up to the age of 17. With more applications coming in daily, please be generous and help our veterans who have given this country so much and help our children in need. There will be no better feeling than to wake up Christmas morning and know you put a smile on a child’s face.

Charles Mixson

Fairmont