Toys for Tots, City Outreach offer holiday hope

New toys for Toys for Tots are piled up around a Christmas tree and canned foods for Good Samaritan at this Shelbyville business. Sponsors say more donations are needed this year.
(T-G Photo by Kent Flanagan) [Order this photo]

And this year, more residents are in need of assistance than they have been since October 1982 when 20.6 percent were unemployed in the county.

Many area churches school and civic organizations are asking for more donations of food items, toys and clothing to meet the growing need.

And folks are responding.

For example, one Shelbyville business is collecting new, unwrapped toys for the annual Toys for Tots campaign, and canned foods for Good Samaritan,

The display is impressive, but the store's manager wanted only a photograph to show how much had been contributed but declined to allow publication of the name of her business for this article.

A number of local organizations are gathering food items for Good Samaritan. To help out, call Good Samaritan at 684-8160.

City Outreach Ministries also needs toys, especially bicycles, or money to buy toys for its annual program, according to Scott Horn, pastor and director of City Outreach. Call (931) 680-9660 for more information.

The toy program is held by the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation and coordinated in Shelbyville by the Shelbyville Fire Department, where residents can leave new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations.

Other drop off spots include: First Community Bank, Corner Cleaners, Pirtle & Howerton Automotive, Cooper Steel, Century Mold, Shelbyville Power, Dollar General, Chamber of Commerce, Doak-Howell Funeral Home, and Arby's.

Toys for Tots will be distributed Dec. 17 at the old Kroger Building on Madison Street.

Names of children to be signed up for Toys for Tots are being taken by United Way, (931) 684-6685, and Laura Ledlow, (931) 580-0194. Callers need to provide the child's name, address, sex and age.

Those picking up toys must have a photo I.D. and proof of Bedford County residence, such as a utility bill. Time for the distribution has not been announced yet.

Next week, the Times-Gazette will publish a list of any organizations seeking donations for their holiday programs. Please send information by e-mail to editor@t-g.com or call (931) 684-1200 and ask for the News Department.