Thanks to our wonderful, selfless, and caring communities for another great Toys for Tots season. With your support your local Toys for Tots program served 2630 kids in our three North Carolina counties and seven in Georgia.

Across our region we had drop-off boxes, change jugs, and several great toy collection events, giving you many opportunities to help every child have a wonderful Christmas, and you came through by leaps and bounds. We were able to collect 15,567 toys and, with the toys we had remaining from last year, we distributed 17,468 toys, averaging 7 toys per child.

One of our large annual events included the Smoky Mountain Chevrolet Toys for Tots Car show where we were able to collect 460 toys and $105. The High Mountain Squares Annual Christmas Party, held at the Macon Community Building, was another where we collected 98 toys and $121. And with another of the large Christmas collection events, the Harrah’s Casino Employees collected and loaded our Christmas Parade Float, the Marine Helicopter, with over 2200 toys.

We would be remiss if we forgot to thank CareNet for helping us to screen the families. It was a huge help and a time saver, leaving our volunteers more time to set-up collection points, to pick-up toys in Marine Dress Blues at various collection events, and to keep the communities aware of our wonderful program by entering our Marine Helicopter into four Christmas Parades.

Thank you to Reggie Holland of The Holland Group for the storage space in a controlled environment for the past few years. Because of their generosity the toys we have remaining from last season will be safe and ready for use this coming season.

We extend a BIG THANK YOU to Macon County who let us use the bottom floor of the old Library as a head quarters for the 2007 season. This space allowed us ample room to separate toys by age and gender, in a clean, warm environment. It was also in a great location making it convenient and safe for parents to pickup toys, as well as our community organizations we provide toys.

As is standard procedure the Toys for Tots program is a national program run by volunteers in local communities. We do not have a permanent building and are now looking for a home for the 2008 season. So if you have a warm, secure, open space that is conveniently located that you are willing to donate from October 1 through December 31 of 2008, then give the coordinator, Randy Hughes, a call at 369-9244.

Again, thank you Macon, Jackson and Swain, for your big hearts and dedication. Together we were able to make sure 2630 children had a toy to open for Christmas. Remember when you see those jugs and boxes out next year that the toy you give, or the dollars you donate, will bless a child in our region. See you all next year!