The annual collection drive for Toys for Tots, the nationwide organization that collects unwrapped toys and distributes them to needy children, has begun.
Auburn residents interested in donating toys to the program can do so at Moe’s restaurants in Auburn and Opelika as well as Auburn Fire Stations.
James Kahler, general manager for the Moe’s located at 2574 Enterprise Drive in Opelika, said his store is ready and waiting for people interested in donating toys.
“We have signs and stuff outside and on the windows,” Kahler said. “We have a box just inside the door. We haven’t received a lot of toys, but we’re ready for them.”
Kahler indicated those wishing to bring larger toys might want to head to the fire station, but Moe’s could still handle them.
“If it’s too big for the box they can speak to one of us, and we’ll take it over to the fire department for them,” Kahler said.
John Lankford, a fireman for the Auburn Public Safety Fire Division, works at Fire Station 1, located at 359 E. Magnolia Ave.
Lankford said his station has received a good amount of toys.
“So far, yea,” Lankford said. “We’ve got a decent amount of presents in. We’ll continue taking toys until probably the week before Christmas.”
Lankford said the fire stations have boxes set up inside for toy collection, and if people donating toys need help with moving their toys, the firemen will help.
“All they need to do is speak to one of us,” Lankford said. “And if whatever they bring is too big for a box, or they need help bringing it in, we’ll help them out with that. All the fire stations in the area are accepting toys.”
The other three fire stations in Auburn are Fire Station 2 at 1520 Shug Jordan Parkway, Fire Station 3 at 685 Ogletree Road and Fire Station 4 at 1299 Stoker St.
Toys for Tots was founded in 1948, the year after United States Marine Corps Reservist Maj. Bill Hendricks and some of his fellow reservists gathered up and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children in the Los Angeles area.
The USMC adopted the organization.
Their objective is to “help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable natural resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.”
