CHRISTMAS SEASON
Toys for Tots in Jones County is getting ready for Christmas with their last final days before giving out toys to families in the community, so children in Jones County can have a little Christmas.
Shana Backus, the coordinator for Jones County Toys for Tots, said she’s excited to be helping so many families in Jones County this Christmas holiday.
“We are over 400 families, probably up to 1,000 kids who will be getting something from Toys for Tots,” she said. “A difference this year we’ve had is our partnership with the JROTC and Junior Leadership Jones.
We want to say thank you to the school system for helping us out so much.”
She said the distributions this year are Dec. 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
She said families can come on either day. She said applications are now closed. She said the distribution center is located at 315 Pecan Lane in Gray next to Hart’s Mortuary and Cremation Center in Gray.
“We will still need volunteers for those two days, so if anyone wants to come they can. They can help for 30 minutes or all day if they want to.
We also will need volunteers Dec. 15 at those same times. We need help picking out gifts and packing everything up for the families,” Backus said. The coordinator said people should volunteer, because it gives back to the community and helps a family out for free. She said all it costs is time, and it builds community awareness for children at a young age to help out someone else. She said volunteers should be around middle school age and up.
She said Toys for Tots is important for Jones County, because toys and Christmas items are getting more expensive.
She said it’s important for people to step up and take care of their community.
Backus said the items a lot of children have been asking for are Legos, Barbie, scooters, Nerf, Cocomelon, Bluey, Pokémon, and other popular items like those.
She said there will be a car show near the Ingles and Magnolia State Bank parking lots on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Toys for Tots. She said people should bring a toy as admission into the car show.
“My favorite thing this year about Toys for Tots is seeing the high school students help these families,” the coordinator said.
“Helping do something really touches them. It makes me happy to see them wanting to help our community. We want the kids in Jones County to have a great Christmas this year.”
CONTRIBUTED
