Dear editor, the Times,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the 11th annual Toys for Tots toy drive. In a year filled with financial hardships and economic uncertainty, people came together and helped in a way that makes our holiday season brighter for everyone.

A special thanks goes out to the following: The Demopolis Police Department for providing a safe and orderly escort to our destination, the ladies of the First Christian Church for the generous preparation of finger foods and desserts, the members of DemopolisLIVE.com, the Cotillion Club, and Scott and Beth Jones for providing a trailer to transport the toys. Our dropoff locations were Parr’s Chevron, AngelWing Gallery, F&F Drugs and SouthernCare Hospice. All helped make this event possible.

Toys for Tots is a program founded in 1947 by Maj. Bill Hendricks of the United States Marine Corps. Its purpose is to provide toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. Their efforts were so successful that in 1948 Toys For Tots was launched as a national campaign. The program has run every year since. Many motorcycle clubs and other organizations around the country regularly participate in the event.

The mission of the program “is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.”

Those who donated to this worthy cause can rest assured their gifts will remain in Marengo County, as the toys are distributed through the Department of Human Resource’s “Project: Merry Christmas.”

Again, a big thanks to everyone involved for a successful drive and for helping a child have a merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Russ Gaddy

River City Bike Association