ON CHRISTMAS morning, sirens trilled, and horns blared as a host of flaming red fire and rescue trucks whirled into the Bowling Green Housing Authority, with an entourage of vehicles following behind. Instead of the traditional method for delivering Christmas presents — Santa’s sleigh guided by Rudolph — dozens of firefighters from the Bowling Green Fire Department, along with volunteers from the Marine Corps League, as well as volunteers from across South Central Kentucky, gave “the big guy” a little extra help.
When Marine Corps Veteran Don Butler stepped out of the all-terrain vehicle as “Santa,” representing the South Central Toys for Tots organization, he donned a pair of bright red pants, a matching sweater, and a red baseball cap bearing the Marine Corps emblem. Butler’s telltale snow-white beard, wire-rimmed glasses, and festive Christmas shirt delighted hundreds of families across the housing complex who dashed to their windows and outside onto their sidewalks. Volunteers and members of the U.S. Marine Corps went door to door, handing out toys, books, and bicycles.
Darby Meredith pressed the siren one last time before climbing down from the seat in the firetruck. As the delightful scene unfolded before her, pride at what she and a team of volunteers had accomplished surged in Darby’s chest. She and her parents, Chris and Kelly Meredith, had volunteered with the Toys for Tots program since she was in the second grade. This year, the program chose Darby, now a freshman at Greenwood High School, as one of only 42 youth ambassadors. Countless hours of shopping, sorting donated items, matching the names and ages to the correct gift bags, loading the truck, and sharing the Toys for Tots program over the past year finally came together to create the perfect day for Darby and hundreds of families.
Though Darby is actively involved in the a cappella choir, National FFA Organization, Young Life, and is a member of the Greenwood Lady Gator golf team, she somehow found time to raise awareness for Toys for Tots. She promoted it at her high school and community events. Last fall, she hosted the first Taillights and Toys Car Show to benefit the toy drive. Through her dad’s employer, Med Center Health, she and her dad secured a new community partner who welcomed the placement of approximately 40 Toys for Tots donation boxes inside Med Center Health’s facilities. For the first time, families in Clinton County — close to 400 families — were able to receive gifts because of this partnership.
The Bowling Green Housing Authority wasn’t the only place where toys were distributed. Darby’s mom, Kelly, said, “Our main distribution took place on Saturday mornings in December when families that signed up for assistance came to the ‘North Pole’ at their assigned times to collect their toys.”
Toys for Tots volunteers distribute collection boxes beginning in October, so the community has time to donate, and volunteers have time to deliver items to the “North Pole” for sorting, packing, and distribution.
“Our Toys for Tots campaign currently serves 23 counties in Kentucky, and though we won’t have the numbers for 2024 until after this article is printed, we served almost 20,000 children in 17 counties in 2023,” said Kelly. “As a family, our goal is to remain as involved as possible in this wonderful program. Darby hopes to be reappointed as a youth ambassador each year until she ages out of the program at 18 years old. We hope to continue to enhance awareness about the program so that members of our community who need assistance can continue to be served. Darby also plans to continue bringing awareness with her annual car show in the fall, and she is currently working to host a first-ever golf scramble later this spring or this summer.”
According to its website, in 2024, the national Toys for Tots organization distributed approximately 25 million items to more than 10 million children from newborn to 12 years old. This included over 300,000 children who are considered at risk, as well as over 200,000 children through its Native American program. It also distributed over 4 million books through their literacy program, along with distributing packets to families in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico who were affected by recent natural disasters.
Darby’s dad, Chris, said, “Toys for Tots is a year-round program. During times of community need, such as the tornado of 2021, they provided items to children and families. Additionally, we have a nursing home campaign that we also run throughout the year in which we partner with 17 local nursing homes to provide items such as hygiene products, craft supplies, small gifts for bingo, and small items such as word searches, baby dolls, and coloring books.”
Chris continued, “Everyone benefits from this program. As a family, we have been able to bond and grow by serving others. Every volunteer has the benefit of helping those in need, and our community partners like Med Center Health get to help as well. Most importantly, the children who receive toys have a Christmas they might not otherwise have, and they get to experience the joy of the season.” GN
