Toys for Tots campaign under way in Southwest Georgia

ALBANY — Toys for Tots, a program coordinated through the Marine Reserve offering an opportunity for children up to age 12 in low-income families in the Southwest Georgia area to have a gift to open on Christmas Day, is now in full swing.

While the registration process to receive toys is ongoing, bins will be placed at businesses and high-traffic venues throughout the area. The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys with a value of roughly $20 or less during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community.

Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie Smith, coordinator for the Albany area campaign, said boxes started going out on Friday, and are continuing to be delivered this week. Toys will be accepted until Dec. 4, after which point they will be distributed to families.

When Smith took on the role of coordinator, he came in to find a number of unclaimed toys from last year, in part prompting a strong focus on registrations this year from needy families.

“Our main focus is to register for toys,” he said. “If you think you can get the toys, sign up.”

Registration in the Albany area to receive toys is being conducted through the Salvation Army at 304 W. 2nd Ave. All the required documents are needed to sign up.

The documentation includes:

— State issued picture identification

— Birth certificates for all children being applied for

— Current food stamp summary in a parent or guardian’s name

— Current rent receipt and utility bill in a parent or guardian’s name

— Verification of all income for the entire household, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, child support, employment and Georgia Department of Community Affairs Housing Choice Voucher Program

— Medicare cards for everyone in the household

The regional drive covers Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas and Worth counties. Last year, there were 6,500 toys collected.

This year, the goal is to collect 7,000 with the intention of each child getting two toys, Smith said.

“The Marine Corps wants to make sure everyone receives a toy this year,” Smith said.

The Salvation Army is taking applications from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 26-29 and Nov. 2-5, and parents should enter through the side door of the facility. Requests for toys cannot be taken online or over the phone.

For additional information on the registration process, the Salvation Army can be reached at (229) 435-1428.

Toys for Tots is the largest Department of Defense outreach program. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has served as the fund raising, funding and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program since 1991.

Information from Toys for Tots says that assistance from the foundation includes supporting the program by raising funds to provide toys to supplement the collections of area campaigns, and to provide promotional and support material and defray the costs of conducting annual campaigns. Other support includes providing administrative, advisory, financial, logistic and promotional support to coordinators; managing funds raised and monies donated based on the use of Toys for Tots name or logo; providing other support the Marine Corps — as a federal agency — cannot provide; and conducting public education and information programs about Toys for Tots.

Visiting the Albany area campaign’s website, albany-ga.toysfortots.org, provides information on donation opportunities of either toys or funds, as well as volunteer opportunities or how to become a drop site. Smith is willing to coordinate donation pick ups or specific opportunities for individuals or specific organizations to help, and can be reached at (229) 869-9478 or [email protected].