Toys for Tots

Residents of Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties will have the chance to bring the "joy of Christmas to needy children" around the area by donating to Toys for Tots.

The U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program has been established for more than 50 years.

The program began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, with the support of members of the Los Angeles, Calif., Marine Corps Reserve Unit, collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.

Due to the programs success, in 1948, the Marine Corps adopted it and expanded it nationwide. Since then, more than 402,000,000 toys have been collected and distributed toys to children across the nation.

In 2007, local resident Alyce Bryant brought the program to the area. In 2008, the local program distributed 1,881 toys to 955 children in Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties.

"We supported the Dunklin County Foster Children's Christmas Party and Pemiscot Division of Family Services," Bryant said.

During this year's Delta Fair, Holly Maddox and Charlotte Hicks raised $1,340 for the local program by hosting the "Cutest Dog of the Delta Fair" contest.

Other events to support the program include Choo Choo Train Cutouts at local merchants, the Toys for Tots Pageant, and donations.

Bryant said the Choo Train cutouts are available for $1 each, and can be purchased at Alford's, Town and Country, Harps, Raben Tire, Unico Bank, Kids Kribs, Faughts, Dollins, and Studio 119.

The cutouts will be available through the end of November.

The Toys for Tots Pageant will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Kennett Christian Academy. Registration will begin at 12 noon, with the competition starting at 1 p.m.

There will be three age divisions for boys and 11 age divisions for girls.

There will be a $5 admission fee for all contestants, family members, and friends, and participants are asked to bring one unwrapped toy.

Monetary donations for the Toys for Tots program can be made online at ToysforTots.org, or can be mailed to Alyce Bryant at 2210 Carter Street, Kennett, Mo., 63857.

Unwrapped toys can also be donated at the following locations:

* Dollar General of Kennett, Malden, and Campbell;

* Raben Tire of Kennett;

* H&R Block of Caruthersville;

* Bank Star of the Bootheel in Steele;

* Studio 119 of Kennett;

* A&A Loans of Malden;

* Faughts of Kennett;

* TEKO Pharmacy of Kennett;

* Kids Kribs of Kennett, and;

* Henfling Transmission of Kennett.

Applications for the program can be picked up at the Dunklin County Caring Council, located at 311 Kennett Street; H&R Block of Caruthersville; and A&A Loans of Malden.

Pick-ups will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Dunklin County Caring Council. This will be the only pick-up time. There will be no deliveries.

The deadline for applications and donations in Nov. 30.

Bryant said more drop-off locations are being added and can be found online at ToysforTots.org.

"I think the people in our community are great in willing to help our children," Bryant said. "They come out and support us every year. When Toys for Tots first started, they really did not know what it was but once they found out what it was, they joined together and got involved. It is something that has grown every year.

"It went over well the first year. We have more supporters this year than we ever have. We have more volunteers this year than we ever have. I think it is going to grow every year."

For more information on Toys for Tots, call Minnie Sanders at the Dunklin County Caring Council at (573) 888-1158 or log on to www.ToysforTots.org.