Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office starts Operation Toy Drive campaign

ALBANY — Wednesday marksed the beginning of the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office’s partnership in a local TV station’s annual toy drive.

From 6:30 a.m. Wednesday to 8:30 a.m. and then again from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office will have a truck parked at the Dougherty County Jail parking lot where people can come and drop a new, unwrapped toy. There are also bright red collection boxes distributed around the community including at the main Sheriff’s office, the jail and inside the Albany Judicial Building.

This is the fourth year the Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the local Fox affiliate to host the toy drive, Chief Deputy Terron Hayes said. It’s something they look forward to each year as an opportunity to give back to the community.

“We’re looking to get a lot of toys donated to hopefully make some kids’ Christmases,” Hayes said. “We know it’s been some financially hard times for a lot of our citizens, so this is a way we can help relieve some of the pressure and financial burdens.”

The Sheriff’s Office was able to provide presents for 10 to 15 families through its toy drive as well as shopped for 85 to 100 kids through its annual “Shop with the Sheriff” program in previous years, Hayes said.

The department finds families to distribute the gifts to through partnerships with local organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs and Dougherty County School System. These collaborations allow the department to know what the kids’ needs are, he said. Sheriff’s officials also receive phone calls from families asking if they’ll be helping for the upcoming holidays.

“It’s been a very humbling experience because a lot of people in our community struggle to make ends meet, and they contact us about being able to help provide for their kids,” Hayes said. “It’s a blessing for us to be a blessing to others.”

Each year, the Sheriff’s Office is looking to fill at least four of the large donation boxes and one sheriff’s patrol car or truck bed with new toys, he said.

“We always look to do more,” Hayes said. “By building good relationships in this community, we’ve been able to help a lot of families and a lot of kids.”

There is no specific age range for toy donations, he said. They’ve received toys for children as young as 7 months old. Toys must be new and unwrapped. To make financial donations, contact the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office and ask for Capt. Ted Thomas, Hayes said.

Other donation dates include:

— Nov. 17 from 6:30-8:30 a.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dougherty County Jail parking lot;

— Nov. 17 from 9: a.m.-noon at the East Albany Walmart parking lot;

— Nov. 27 from 8 a.m.-noon in front of the Judicial Building;

— Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Albany Civic Center.

The deadline to drop off toys at one of the collection boxes is Dec. 8 by noon.

Those with questions can contact Thomas at (229) 854-6497.

By Lucille Lannigan | [email protected][email protected]