Veterans promote annual toy drive
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 26, 2014 1:46 PM
The annual Toys for Tots campaign has begun and collection boxes have been placed at car dealerships, real estate offices and at most major department store outlets in the county.
Nationally, the program is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, but in Wayne County, it has been sponsored by the Marine Corps League Waynesborough Detachment 1350 since 2011.
"It is very successful, very successful," said Bill Graham, who helped to found the detachment. "It goes a long way."
It is easy to participate, Graham said, adding that people simply have to place a new toy into one of the boxes located across the county.
The items should be for boys or girls from up to age 15.
"It doesn't have to be a toy," Graham said. "It can be an educational gift like a book."
Marine Corps League chaplain Bill Boyd and his wife, Anne, are taking requests for toys over the phone at 919-273-2404.
In just one day last week, the Boyds received more than 40 calls requesting toys for needy children.
But not everybody gets one.
There is a strict application process that ensures only needy families are on the receiving end of the program donors' kindness.
"It is going pretty good," Boyd said. "They call it in, and my wife gets the name, address, the number of children, their ages and genders."
The deadline to donate a toy is Dec. 18 and the gifts will be distributed Dec. 19 and Dec. 20.
People will be called and given a date, time and location for picking up the toys.
There will be two distribution locations -- a warehouse at the corner of North William Street and Industry Drive and at the American Legion Post 11 headquarters on U.S. 117.
"As long was we have toys we are going to dispense them," Boyd said.
The following locations have a Toys For Tots donation box on site:
* Best Western, Spence Ave.
* Edward Jones Investments, 690 N. Spence Ave.
* Edward Jones Investments, 2005 E. Ash St.
* Hutch Construction, U.S. 70 West
* Walgreens, Wayne Memorial Drive
* Walgreens, Berkeley Boulevard
* Deacon Jones Ford, 11th Street
* The Tumble Gym, 1310 Parkway Drive
* Stevenson Honda, West Grantham Street
* Chevrolet of Goldsboro, 3300 Oak Forest Rd.
* IHOP, 1100 N. Berkeley Blvd.
* Hwy 55 Burgers, 163 N.C. 111 South
* Dollar General, N.C. 111 South
* Dollar General, West Grantham Street
* Dollar General, George Street
* Maxway, Center Street
* Lee Hyundai, 304 N. Oak Forest Rd
* Heroes Are Here, South Berkeley Boulevard
* Firestone Tire, North Berkeley Boulevard
* Windows and More, 121 N. William St.
* American Storage, 4163 U.S. 70 East
* Academics Plus,706 N. Berkeley Blvd.
* Walgreens, N.C. 55 West
* Mount Olive Family Medicine Center, South Breazeale Avenue
* Hwy 55 Burgers, Mt. Olive Centre shopping center
* Tri County Electric, U.S. 117 Alternate South
* Dollar General, U.S. 117 South
* Dollar General, 609 S. Wilson St.