WITH A new year comes new and greater opportunities. Now, more than ever, the community can gather to support underserved families to help them get ahead in 2023. The Lincoln County Toy Drive serves hundreds of families around the community by providing children with toys at Christmas.
The Lincoln County Toy Drive has served the community for 56 years, and the organization continues to grow stronger with each passing year.
The Fayetteville Rotary Community Foundation (Rotary Club) was established to help fund the toy drive. Chair of the Lincoln County Toy Drive, Marisa Thornton, joined the Rotary Club in 2008. She said she enjoys serving children because they are the future.
The Rotary Club’s motto is “Service Above Self.” But their motto is not just a statement—it’s actions carried out year-round.
The organization served 389 children last year, but Thornton said they couldn’t have done it without the help of their generous partners.
The organization partners with the Fayetteville Rotary Club, the Fayetteville Fire Department, Elk Valley Times, and dozens of sponsors and donors to help make children’s dreams come true.
Thornton said the partnerships make sense.
“This makes sense when you need a collaboration of people to get like-minded and community-driven organizations involved.”
Fayetteville Public Utilities is another one of their many generous partners. They provide drivers and trucks to haul the toys to and from their destination. The drivers also help package toys and load them onto the trailer.
Thornton said, “We have many people behind the scenes that may not get as much recognition as they should.”
Triad Packaging has helped the toy drive by supplying boxes, which helps the organization stay organized. Big G Express and the Marsh Family have always been generous and supplied the trailers to help them move the toys from their “Buy Night” locations to the fire station.
They also have generous partners who agreed to let them put boxes at their businesses and schools, to help collect toys as well. It truly takes a community effort, and the organization is grateful for every donor that provides toys, funding, and other resources to help provide for hundreds of families around the community.
All of the proceeds go directly to the toy drive, and all of the money donated goes to children right here in Lincoln County.
Thornton would like the community to know the organization accepts funds for toys year-round, but donated toys are specific to the holidays. The organization is always looking for ways to provide toys to children around the community.
The toys provided are more than entertainment, but a way to show children and families that they are loved. The community can support the toy drive by donating funds online. GN