Toys for Tots providing smiles for 1,000 kids

    Peachtree – As timid parents walked in, cheerful volunteers greeted them and directed them where to go.
    Within minutes, they were smiling with bags full of toys – and even wrapping paper – so their children could have gifts to open Christmas morning.
        “It’s awesome. It really is a blessing,” said Heather Bales of Andrews, who was picking up gifts for her children.
    Toys for Toys of Cherokee County had 830 children registered to receive gifts, and since the organization continues to receive requests for help, they had 870 bags of toys ready to go on the morning of Dec. 13. Bags were organized by age and gender for easy distribution.
    “It is absolutely one of the most incredible things I’ve ever done in my life,” assistant coordinator Barbara Hudson said.
    “It’s nice to help all these children.”
    Hudson was thankful for the many dedicated volunteers who helped with organizing and distributing the toys. Students from the Early College’s Beta Club also took time out their day to help distribute toys.
    It was Dalia Escobar’s second year volunteering with the Beta Club.
    “I have a fun time picking out the toys and seeing what the kids want,” Escobar said. “It gets us in the Christmas spirit.”
    Hudson said the organization had an emphasis on literacy this year. Thanks
to money raised by the community, the organization
was able to purchase more than 2,000 books to give out with the bags of toys this year.
    In addition to the distribution weekend, Toys for Tots provided gifts that were handed out during the Big Brothers Big Sisters Christmas party. The non-profit organization also provided 46 bags of toys for 46 children at Nantahala School.
    “That puts us pretty close to 1,000 children served by the program,” Hudson said.
    The organization appreciated Cherokee County Family Resources, the Andrews Public Library and county schools for their help registering children.
    Hudson said the organization wants to reach as
many children as possible, and if there are any children they are not reaching, they would like to find them.
Support is available because the community has been very generous.
    “We can always make it happen,” she said.
    For details, call local coordinator Don Slifer at 644-1971 or email t4tcc10@gmail.com.