The Toys for Tots (TFT) campaign that covers Gilmer County could help 2,000 or more local children with presents this Christmas.
Ret. Marine Sgt. A.J. LeCompte, TFT campaign coordinator, said 1,742 Gilmer children received toys in 2022, and that number typically grows by the year.
“We will be wrapping 8,000 toys, giving out 18,000 stocking stuffers and around 2,500 children’s books this year,” he added. “We are all volunteers and get no government assistance. All toys, stocking stuffers, books and monetary donations donated in Gilmer County stay in Gilmer County to help children from newborn through age 18 in financially challenged families.”
The local TFT team began taking applications Oct. 16, and applications will continue to be accepted until Dec. 20.
“We’ve already processed applications for 233 children,” LeCompte said.
“All applications are screened through Charity Tracker, so the Ellijay Lions Club, Gilmer Family Connection, Toys for Tots and some churches are all helping different families.”
This year, the local TFT headquarters is Truist Bank, located in East Ellijay at 894 Maddox Drive. Applications for assistance can be filled out and dropped off at Faith Hope and Charity Recycle Store, 449 Industrial Blvd; the Gilmer Community Food Pantry, 5273 Highway 52 East; Gilmer County DFACS, 222 Highland Crossing and inside the main entrance to the Truist building. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 20.
“We are on the second floor of the Truist Bank building, and there’s an elevator for any older volunteers who aren’t able to use the stairs,” said LeCompte.
“We started (gift wrapping) on Nov. 1 with 50 families that have already requested assistance. We gift wrap every Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., till Christmas, and we are still looking for volunteers to help wrap the toys. You can gift wrap for as long or short a time period as you like, even for as little as 30 minutes.”
The local TFT toy drive, for which toys are purchased and collected year-round, is also still underway. There are several dropoff boxes at locations in Ellijay and East Ellijay, as well as a 24/7 donation box outside the front covered area of Truist Bank, LeCompte noted.
The donation boxes also have a QR code on them that connects to the local TFT campaign’s website.
A full list of donation dropoff locations can be found at that website, Ellijay-ga.toysfortots.org. Monetary donations are also accepted there, LeCompte noted.