County Agencies to Start Toy Drive this Weekend

Just two days after the Thanksgiving holiday, and the will be collecting toys to help make Christmas merry for local children in need.

The Empty Stocking Toy Drive kicks off Saturday in the parking lot of the Barrow Crossing shopping center, where county first responders and CERT members will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for children between the age of 3 and 18.

The agencies are working with Barrow County Family Connection/Communities In Schools,the organization that hosts the Holiday Connection, to distribute the toys.

“All donations will stay here in Barrow County helping the families of Barrow that are in need," Lt. Scott Dakin, public information officer for Barrow County Emergency Services, said in a news release.

Dakin said the annual event has helped hundreds of local children each year wake up to presents Christmas morning.

“We enjoy participating in this event each year,” Dakin said in the release. “The citizens have stepped up each year to help us with this and we are asking them to do that again this year.”

If you can't make it out to donate during this Saturday's drive, additional drives will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10 at Barrow Crossing or you can drop of a toy at any Barrow County fire station before Dec. 12.