BBQ meal last weekend benefits Toys for Tots
By Sam Waller
Toys for Tots raised more than $600 Saturday providing barbecue sandwiches for attendees at Albany’s Lighted Christmas Parade.
Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty, who heads the campaign in Shackelford and Stephens counties, said the project netted $614 in donations.
“That’s pretty good for just a couple of hours of serving meals,” he said. “We had some good donations.”
Beaty commended members of Albany High School’s National Honor Society for their assistance.
“I never had to say a word to them,” he said. “They jumped in there and set up. Everybody picked what job they wanted to do, and they just put it together.”
The application deadline for Toys for Tots is Thursday (today). Toys will be available for parents to pick up on Dec. 16.
“I’ve still got a collection box at Dollar General and monetary donation boxes at Prairie Star and Vintage Vanilla,” Beaty said. “Anybody writing a check should receive a certificate so they can write it off as a 501(c) contribution.”
The program provides toys for needy children from infants up to 11 years old.
“It’s a true blessing to give a needy child a new toy for Christmas,” Beaty said.
Beaty said the biggest need is items for children age 8 and older.
“I usually don’t get as many of those toys,” he said. “I always get the younger toys. The older ones are harder to buy for and harder to get toys for.”
After a slow start, Beaty said this year’s campaign has picked up in the last few days.
“It’s going well,” he said. “I’ve got the money for the barbecue and went out and collected some more money, plus the boxes of toys. It’s shaping up.”
Adopt A Senior
All senior citizens registered for the Adopt A Senior program – approximately 40 – have been adopted. Gifts, which should be unwrapped, are due to ResourceCare by Friday so they can be wrapped.
Gifts will be delivered with Vittles by Vehicle meals on Dec. 15.
Additional Needs
ResourceCare programs assistant Ragan Riley said Resource Care still needs donations for all its Christmas outreach programs.
Items sought include blankets, hygiene products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, shampoo, etc.), and paper products (paper plates, plastic cups, plasticware, paper towels, etc.).
Riley said monetary donations are also welcome.
