The Resource Center again coordinating Toys for Tots drive

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 campaign are counting on the community’s generosity to make this year’s effort a success.

For the 19^th straight year, The Resource Center is coordinating the Toys for Tots drive in Chautauqua County. Assisting in operating the campaign again this year are Chautauqua Connections, Inc., and the Chautauqua Connections Children’s Coalition.

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. Last year, 3,213 Chautauqua County children received gifts.

This year, applications must be submitted online at www.jamestown-ny.toysfortots.org.

Children age 17 and younger whose families meet household income guidelines are eligible for assistance through Toys for Tots. Applications will be accepted until December 9.

The Resource Center’s primary mission is supporting people with disabilities. While many people with disabilities benefit from Toys for Tots each year, TRC also coordinates the annual toy drive in order to give back to the community. Though TRC organizes the toy campaign, support from area residents and businesses makes the effort a success.

In addition to placing toys in the collection boxes that are located at area businesses, people can donate toys by attending the Jamestown holiday parade Friday, December 6, and placing their gifts on The Resource Center’s Toys for Tots float. On Saturday, November 30, the fourth annual “Teddy Bear Toss” will take place at Northwest Arena, with fans encouraged to throw teddy bears onto the ice after the Jamestown Rebels score their first goal. The bears will be donated to Toys for Tots.

Cash donations also are welcome, as the money is used to buy gifts for children in age groups that typically do not receive a lot of toy donations. The Resource Center will host its annual Holiday Shopping Extravaganza at 200 Dunham Avenue on Saturday, December 7, from 10:00 to 4:00, and proceeds from the event will go to Toys for Tots. People can also donate by mailing a check (made payable to Toys for Tots) to The Resource Center, 200 Dunham Avenue, Jamestown, NY, 14701.

With thousands of toys being donated, organizers need a large warehouse space to safely store the toys. For the fifth straight year, Allied Alarm Services has donated the use of its facilities to store the toys that are donated

Toys for Tots organizers are seeking volunteers to assist with sorting and distributing toys. If interested, phone 661-1042.

Updates on the toy drive can be found by visiting the Chautauqua County, New York – Toys for Tots 2019 Facebook page.

Area residents can support the Toys for Tots drive by placing new, unwrapped toys in any of the collection boxes located at more than 130 sites throughout Chautauqua County. Toys will be accepted until Friday, December 13. Here are some of the toy drop-off locations:

Anytime Fitness
Applebees – Dunkirk
Artone
Ashville Free Library
Aspen Dental – Lakewood
Bemus Elementary School
Bemus Point Golf Course
Bemus Point Inn
Big Lots – Jamestown
Brookdale
BWB
Celoron Moose
Chautauqua Childrens Gym
Chautauqua Harbor Hotel
Chautauqua Inst. Book Store
Chautauqua Institution Main Office
Chautauqua Mall
Chautauqua Patrons Insurance
Chautauqua Works
The Connection
CPL Team Architecture & Engineering
Cummins
Dollar General – most Chautauqua County locations
Dom Polski Club
Ed Shultz – most locations
Edward Jones Financial
Elks Club
ERA Real Estate -all Chautauqua County locations
Falconer School
Family Martial Arts Center Fredonia
Fancher Chair
Farm Fresh Foods -Third St.
Felice Corp. Center
Fitness Bunker
Forbicci Hair Design
Fredonia Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
Gerber Collision
Greater Chaut. Federal Credit Union
H&R Block
Holiday Inn Express
Hyundai
Inscape
Jackson Center
Jamestown Area Federal Credit Union – Second St
Jamestown Area Federal Credit Union- Lakewood
Jamestown Rubber Stamp Co
Jefferson School
Karma Salon
Keller Group -Lockwood Agency
Kia of Jamestown
Kirk’s Jewelers & Gifts Inc
LandPro
Larson-Timko Funeral home
Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County
M&T Bank – Falconer
M&T Bank – Foote Ave
Matco Tool
Northwest Arena
Panache Salon
Piazza’s Carpet One
Premier Listings Real Estate
Pucci’s Carpet One
Quick Solutions
Red Lobster
Regal Services
Ring School
Robo Wash – 2nd St
Roots Salon
RS Motors
Serta Mattress Company
ServPro of Jamestown/Olean
Sheridan VFW
Shults Accident Repair Center
SKF
South County Office Building
St. James Church
Starbucks
Tanglewood Manor
Temple Elementary School
Tim Hortons – All Chautauqua County locations
Tops – Washington St.
The Resource Center – all locations
UBS Financial Services Inc.
VA Clinic – Dunkirk
VFW – Silver Creek
VFW -Westfield
Wal-Mart- Fredonia
Wal-Mart- Lakewood
WCA Home Assisted Living Facility
Weber Knapp Co.
Wegmans
Woodforest National Bank
Woodlawn Credit Union-Fredonia
Woodlawn Credit Union-Lakewood
Xplosion All Stars Competition Cheer Team
YMCA – Jamestown
YMCA – Lakewood

The First Lutheran Community Outreach Store in Jamestown recently presented $1,000 to the Marine Toys for Tots drive in Chautauqua County. Pictured are, from left, Debi Brandi, Store Manager; Toys for Tots Coordinators Patrick Smeraldo, Independent Service Coordinator with Chautauqua Connections, Inc., and Terri Johnson, TRC’s Director of Employment and Community-Based Services; Jane Young, a TRC employee and member of First Lutheran Church; and Pastor Daniel Nagle.