Toys for Kids of Jefferson County have announced registration dates and times and put out a call for volunteers.
“This year we’re going to have the Headquarters at the mall open more,” TFK President Jill Holloway said. “All the registrations will be at the mall. ... In the past, we’ve had registration three days for four hours at (a local church) and then three or four eight-hour days at Headquarters. This way, the public has more chance to register or drop off donations at the mall.”
Registration dates will be Oct. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Nov. 1 from 9 to 11 a.m.; Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Nov. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Nov. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holloway said last year the group provided Christmas presents for 1,000 children.
“We expect more kids this year,” Holloway said. “There is a definite need for money and toys. Our older kids, from 7 to 14 years-old, are where we are lacking. People don’t donate for the older group as much.”
This year TFK will also have Christmas trees set up at local participating businesses and customers can pick up a card on the tree and purchase the item listed on the card decoration.
“We have already confirmed a tree for Big Lots and Shoe Sensation,” Holloway said. “We hope more businesses will confirm that we can put a tree up. We make sure there are some items on the tree that can be picked up at that business to make it easier on the person making the donation.”
In addition to making donations at the mall at Headquarters, Holloway said donations can still be dropped off at Curves in Mt. Vernon.
The Continental Tire North America Toy Run for Toys for Kids will be held Nov. 5, Holloway said, with participants leaving CTA at about 11 a.m. and bringing donations to Times Square Mall.
Volunteers are still needed for Toys for Kids, with Holloway making dire predictions for what will happen next year if more people don’t step forward.
“Volunteers are way down,” Holloway said. “If people want to volunteer, they can call me at 641-1178 or come by Headquarters and talk to us. If we don’t get more help, I don’t know if there will be a next year for us.” WFTQW
