Pictured from left are Pastor Daniel Nagle of First Lutheran Church of Jamestown; Debi Brandi (with dog Snoopy), manager of First Lutheran\u2019s Community Outreach Store; The Resource Center\u2019s Heather C. Brown, Toys for Tots coordinator; and Jane Young, a TRC employee who is a member of First Lutheran\u2019s choir.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n
CELORON – Coming off of a record year in terms of the number of children supported through the toy drive, organizers of the local Marine Toys for Tots<\/strong> campaign are counting on the community\u2019s generosity to make this year\u2019s effort a success.<\/p>\n
For the 18th straight year, The Resource Center<\/strong> is coordinating the Toys for Tots drive in Chautauqua County. Assisting in operating the campaign again this year are Chautauqua Connections, Inc.<\/strong>, and the Chautauqua Connections Children\u2019s Coalition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Begun in 1947, the Marine Toys for Tots campaign seeks to deliver a message of hope to less-fortunate children throughout the United States by providing them with toys for Christmas. More than 700 toy drives are held nation-wide each year. The Resource Center has led the local toy drive since 2001. About 2,400 usually are supported through the annual toy drive, and last year more than 2,600 Chautauqua County children received gifts.<\/p>\n
The biggest change in the way this year\u2019s drive will operate is that families \u2013 themselves, or through their children\u2019s school or service coordinator \u2013 are encouraged to apply for assistance online. To do that, people should visit www.toysfortots.org<\/a> and click on the \u201cDonate or Request a Toy\u201d link, then follow the steps to navigate to the Chautauqua County campaign.<\/p>\n