Hogansville Assistant Police Chief Tony Lattimor, left, and Hogansville Empty Stocking Fund organizer Lori Drake show some of the almost 500 toys collected at a weekend car show and toy drive in the city. The toys and a separate donation of shoes will be distributed to Hogansville children.
The annual drive, sponsored by the Marine Corps League, distributes toys to needy children through the Salvation Army, LaGrange Empty Stocking fund and Hogansville Empty Stocking Fund.
There’s no set goal for toys this year, but organizers say the economy has made the need even greater.
“We can’t get enough toys,” said Bernard Bledsoe, coordinator of the toy drive.
Bledsoe says the Marines have had “fairly good luck” so far, however, collecting toys and even have acquired two bicycles to give away.
Final pickup from donation boxes will be Dec. 18. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are accepted at city and county fire stations, LaGrange Police Department, Troup County Government Center and a number of local businesses, including the LaGrange Daily News.
The Hogansville Empty Stocking Fund got an infusion of about 500 toys, along with some clothes, new shoes, and almost $300 in cash during a car show Saturday in the city. Jeanette Moore, owner of Moore’s Bonding Company, sponsored the downtown car show along with Hogansville police and required two new, unwrapped toys as the entry fee.
Lori Drake, with the Hogansville Pilot Club and Hogansville Empty Stocking Fund, said the group already has helped about 180 children just in the city with donations, but has more on a waiting list.
“I don’t know how we could turn anyone down now,” she said. The Hogansville Police Department has sponsored a holiday toy drive to benefit the Hogansville Empty Stocking fund for several years. Drake said the weekend car show likely is the biggest single donation the group has received. Drake said the organization usually has to use donated money and an annual allocation from the United Way of West Georgia to go out and buy toys.
The Hogansville Empty Stocking Fund, LaGrange Empty Stocking Fund and Salvation Army all are agencies of the United Way of West Georgia.
Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@la-grangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.
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