South-Central KY Toys for Tots still accepting donations, need additional volunteers

The South-Central Kentucky Toys for Tots Campaign that services Whitley County and other counties in the area is in desperate need of volunteers as the final push nears to get toys into the hands of thousands of children.

As of Friday, the campaign had provided toys to nearly 10,000 children in the region, though there were still approximately 4,000 children still left for toys to be distributed to. To compound that problem, Cathy Sims, the campaign’s coordinator, said that she was short on the number of toys needed to cover the remaining children.

According to Sims, additional help is needed in collecting the campaign’s toy donation boxes that have been placed at various locations across Whitley and Laurel counties.

“We just don’t have the volunteers to get out there and retrieve them all right now,” said Sims.

Anyone who is willing to help is asked to have access to a truck, trailer or some way to adequately transport the boxes as they are quite large. Those interested can contact Greg Sims, the campaign’s public relations representative, at (606) 549-4083.

The campaign is also still welcoming toy and cash donations. As the boxes are in the process of being collected, it is recommended those who would like to donate to do so by visiting the campaign’s warehouse on Old Hickory Blvd. in Williamsburg between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The South-Central Kentucky Toys for Tots Campaign provides toys to children across seven counties, including Whitley, Laurel, Knox, Clay, Leslie and McCreary counties, as well as Campbell County, Tennessee. This year, the campaign has picked up Floyd County as well, though it is not officially part of the campaign’s coverage area.

According to the Toys for Tots Foundation’s website, the South-Central Kentucky Toys for Tots Campaign is among the largest in the state, distributing more than three times the number of toys to three times as many children as campaigns in larger locales, like Lexington and Richmond.

More information about the campaign can be found at www.southcentral-ky.toysfortots.org.