Toys for Tots lunch to raise funds for program

A lunchtime fundraiser for the local Toys for Tots campaign is planned for this Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Youth Center, with help from members of Albany High School’s National Honor Society (NHS), and community members are encouraged to come and enjoy a good meal while helping to provide Christmas presents to disadvantaged local children.

Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty coordinates the program in Albany, which provides gifts for Albany children ages zero to 11, working through the Resource Center. 

A free-will donation barbecue meal will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., according to Beaty, who cooks the meats. 

“I’ve already started getting the prep and the seasoning done,” Beaty said on Monday.

Albany NHS members will provide desserts, side dishes, and serve the meal.

People can either eat at the Youth Center, or get their meal boxed to go. Checks can be made out to Toys for Tots.

The menu will include a barbecue plate of brisket or pulled pork, beans, salads, and dessert. 

The barbecue meal is the biggest fundraiser for the local Toys for Tots program every year, and last year raised over $900.

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots is to collect new, unwrapped toys during November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

“All of the money raised in Albany is used in Albany,” Beaty added. “Because we have companies that work with Toys for Tots in providing discounts on toy purchases, money that is donated to the program really helps to buy a lot of gifts for the children.” 

Beaty works out of town, but has placed Toys for Tots collection boxes at various locations in Albany, including Dollar General, the Resource Center, Albany Minit Mart, and Prairie Star. He plans to drop off collection boxes at Albany High School, Sanders Drug Store, and Fleur De Lee Flower Shop, as soon as he is in Albany while they are open for business.

Other businesses that want to join in the campaign can call Beaty at 254-212-9684 and he will bring them a donation box.

“This is a community action program, with locals helping out others in their own community,” Beaty said. “So far I have always been blessed with donations, and we have been able to raise a little over $1,000 in Albany each year, which has allowed us to provide three to four toys per child.”

The fundraiser meal last year, combined with additional cash donations and contributions of new toys dropped off in the collection boxes, allowed the program to provide gifts for 71 underprivileged Albany children from infants through sixth graders.

“This is my 30th year of doing Toys for Tots,” Beaty said. “The last seven or eight of those have been in Albany.”

Applications For Toys

Those in need of assistance from the program should fill out an application form, available at the front desk of the Resource Center, and return the completed application before Friday, Nov. 30.

Once the list is given to Beaty, he pairs donated gifts with the children, and uses the monetary donations to purchase additional toys from both local vendors and large suppliers.

The toys will be available for parents to pick up at the Youth Center on Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Adopt A Senior

“We have 37 seniors on our Vittles By Vehicle Program that need adopting this holiday season,” ResourceCare program assistant Ragan Riley said. “If someone would like to adopt one of our seniors, please call me at ResourceCare at 325-762-2447 ext. 101.”

Sponsors typically supply their adopted senior with practical gifts such as cleaning supplies, bed sheets, towels, etc.

Many of the senior citizens served by the meal program no longer have family living near enough to help them out, according to RC program director Mindy Ary. 

“The Adopt-a-Senior program enables community members to reach out and make the holidays of a lower income elderly citizen a whole lot brighter,” Ary said.

Seniors need to be adopted by Monday, Dec. 3, and the gifts for the program should be dropped of at the Resource Center by Wednesday, Dec. 19.

Adopt a Senior gifts will be delivered with the Vittles by Vehicle meal on Friday, Dec. 21.