Santa’s sleigh and reindeer was traded in for a fleet of vans Thursday morning.
With hundreds of toys awaiting pickup at Elizabethton Wal-Mart, Grindstaff Motors gave a helping hand to representatives bringing over a convoy of vans to pick up toys that will be distributed to children in Carter County elementary schools over the weekend as part of the Carter County Sheriff’s Auxiliary toy drive.
“There are no words to describe the feeling today,” said Susan Reece, CCSA chairperson. “We are so thankful for the support from the Grindstaffs. Not only monetarily, but the fact they provided the vans for our toys. It really means a lot. Steve and Ashley recently joined the Auxiliary and we just want to thank them, everyone that helped with the pickup from Grindstaff and everyone involved from Wal-Mart. They were so accommodating.”
During the day, Wal-Mart associates scanned 490 toys, which will go for distribution for the CCSA’s toy drive this weekend.
“We started this project in March,” Reece recently told the Elizabethton Star. “We’ve got a long list of children. We’re hoping to help 145 children with this drive.”
Along with toys purchased Thursday, CCSA also received several toy donations from the public thanks to toy distribution boxes scattered throughout the community. Businesses that had boxes included Appalachian Printing, Thomas Davis’ Edward Jones Office, Curt Alexander’s Edward Jones Office, Elizabethton International Paper, Sycamore Shoals State Park, United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County, Northeast State Community College – Elizabethton campus, Elizabethton Big Lots, Valley Forge Auction and Warehouse and Ingles.
“We’ve all been so overwhelmed with the support for this year’s project,” Reece said Thursday. “I can’t say enough about how appreciative we are of everyone that helped with this project.”
But the action doesn’t stop after the weekend endeavor. Once toys are distributed to the children part of the program, excess toys will then be donated to another charitable organization within the community, according to Reece.
The goal of the CCSA is to give back and help with the children, she added. Once their Christmas project is underway, the next goal is to work toward assisting homeless children within the region.
Residents that want to contribute toys for future distribution, other projects or looking to join the CCSA can visit the Carter County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Facebook page or visit the Carter County Sheriff’s Office for more details.