Volunteers and donations needed to make Christmas special
It’s the little details that make Christmas presents special, A.J. LeCompte said.
Those details are why the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots wraps presents before delivering them to local kids.
“If a child doesn’t get anything for Christmas, they feel that they are not as worthy as their classmate because they’re ‘not a good child,’” LeCompte said. “A child takes it very personally.”
When kids get presents, they feel loved. That’s why Toys for Tots works to give gifts to Gilmer’s neediest children.
Not every Toys for Tots program wraps toys before giving them, but Gilmer does.
“We want each child in the United States and the territory of the United States to feel that they’re needed, that they’re important,” he said.
Last year, Toys for Tots gave away around 8,000 toys to 1,987 local children. Each child also received a Christmas stocking with other gifts.
As always, Toys for Tots needs volunteers and donations to continue their mission.
“The people of Gilmer County are very gracious,” LeCompte said. “They think about things like, ‘That child needs the joy of opening a gift.’”
This year, President Donald Trump’s tariffs have raised prices on shipping for some toys. As a result, Toys for Tots plans to give three toys to each child this year rather than its normal four, LeCompte said.
“There’s no way I’m gonna be able to get 8,000 toys,” he said.
The group also needs volunteers to wrap presents, donations of wrapping paper and tape, and more gifts.
All toys donated must be new and unused. Activity toys like Legos, erector sets, buildable bracelets and games are needed. Toys for Tots has enough Barbie dolls and baby dolls.
Donations can be dropped off at Truist Bank Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday. The bank is at 894 Maddox Drive, and Toys for Tots is located on the second floor.
For more places and ways to donate, look at ellijay-ga.toysfortots.org.
Volunteers should meet at Truist Bank between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesdays.
Local businesses will provide lunches to those present by 10:30 a.m. who work until 2 p.m., he said.
Gilmer families wishing to receive toys must fill out an application form at Truist Bank or another Toys for Tots location before Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Toys are distributed every week Friday starting Nov. 7 until Dec. 19 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Truist Bank.
“There’s no way that we can wait until Thanksgiving to process the orders, because there are so many families in Gilmer who need assistance,” LeCompte said.