TOYS FOR TOTS
By Tami Stevenson
Bringing the joy of Christmas to less fortunate children since 1947, Toys for Tots needs the community’s help to bring that Christmas joy to less fortunate children in their county.
New this year, Annita Leonard, of Wellborn, has stepped up to the plate and volunteered to take on the position of coordinator for Suwannee County.
Inga Dwyer, of Lake City, was the coordinator for Suwannee and Columbia Counties in prior years. This year, however, due to Leonard’s heart to take on Suwannee County, Dwyer has taken on Hamilton and Lafayette Counties, along with Columbia.
Leonard wants readers to know when the community gives, they have the peace of knowing their gift will benefit children in their own county. The toys and funds residents give, stay in the county where they were given. She added they desperately need toys for girls at the moment.
Anyone wishing to apply for aide can contact the coordinator for their county or visit their websites listed below.
Here are some drop-off locations and information for anyone wishing to donate.
SUWANNEE COUNTY:
Donations by check:
Please make check out to Toys For Tots and mail to:
Annita Leonard
℅ Toys For Tots
908 8th Avenue
Wellborn, FL 32094
Toys For Tots Suwannee headquarters is at the Blake Lowe building, located at 1509 4th Avenue in Wellborn. Volunteers will be there during the day to accept donations from Dec 6 forward. Contact Annita Leonard at 386-288 3721 or visit the website at wellborn-fl.toysfortots.org her Toys for Tots email is
OTHER DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
LIVE OAK:
Dollar General, 522 E Howard St, Live Oak (across from Brown Lantern).
Wes Haney Chevrolet, 816 E Howard St, Live Oak, FL 32064.
Economy Motors, Inc., 2123 Ohio Ave N, Live Oak, FL 32064 (across from Lowe’s).
All Springs Veterinary Hospital, 10548 70th St, Live Oak, FL 32060 (across from Walmart).
Live Oak Nutrition, 1441 Ohio Ave N, Live Oak, FL 32064.
WELLBORN:
Wellborn’s Country Charm, 12224 Co Rd 137, Wellborn, FL 32094
All Springs Veterinary Hospital, 12613 Co Rd 137, Wellborn, FL 32094
Dollar General, 12646 Co Rd 137, Wellborn, FL 32094
McALPIN:
Mobley’s Custom Cuts, 6769 S Mc Alpin Rd, McAlpin, FL 32062.
The Pizza Stone, 9929 170th Terrace Suite 106, McAlpin, FL 32062
Dollar General, 17040 US-129, McAlpin, FL 32062
COLUMBIA, HAMILTON, LAFAYETTE COUNTY:
Donations by check - Please make check out to Toys For Tots and mail to:
INGA DWYER
℅ TOYS FOR TOTS
1596 SW DAISY ROAD
LAKE CITY, FL 32024
Drop off center for Columbia, Hamilton and Lafayette Counties is located at
259 NE FRANKLIN ST
SUITE 101
LAKE CITY, FL 32055
DIRECTLY ACROSS STREET FROM COLUMBIA COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.
Contact Inga Dwyer at
OTHER DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
All-Tech Raceway 1024 Howell Road Lake City, Fl. 32024 Race times are posted on on All-Tech Raceway’s Facebook website.
The American Legion Post 57 at 2602 SW Main Blvd. Lake City, Florida 32025
TJ Maxx at the Lake City Mall from Oct 1 through December 15.
Dennys in Lake City will also accept toys, with an entire staff ready to assist.
AJ’s Hairspace in Lake City, FL
Vann Carpet One 164 NW Madison St, Lake City, FL 32055
Honda of Lake City on US 90
ABC Liquors on US 90 Lake City, FL
HISTORY: Toys for Tots began in 1947 as the brain child of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks. Actually it was his wife, Diane, who was the real inspiration. She had a few handcrafted dolls and asked her husband to deliver them to an agency that supports children in need.
When Hendricks reported back to his wife that he could not find such an organization, they started one! That first year, they distributed 5,000 toys.
Seeing such successful community engagement in 1947, the Commandant directed all Marine Reserve Sites to implement a Toys for Tots campaign transforming it into a national community action program in 1948.
Bill Hendrick’s civilian job was Director of Public Relations at Warner Brothers Studios. He was friends with many celebrities who he asked to help support the newly created Marine Toys for Tots Program. As a personal friend and as a favor to Hendricks, Walt Disney designed the first Toys for Tots poster which included a miniature three-car train that was subsequently adopted as the Toys for Tots logo. History information was gathered from the toysfortots.org website.