The Perry Toys for Tots campaign got a shot in the arm Friday morning when Travis Landgrebe, manager of the Fareway food store in Perry, presented a check for $854.18 to John Andorf, leader of the Toys for Tots program in Perry.
The money was donated at Fareway Nov. 14-20 by customers who rounded up their sales totals to the nearest dollar and gave the difference to Toys for Tots.
“This is our first time helping Toys for Tots,” Landgrebe said, “and we’re happy to see our generous customers came through for the program, which is great for kids in the Perry community.”
The goal of the Toys for Tots program is to deliver a new toy at Christmas and to provide a message of hope to those less fortunate than us.
Toy collections will continue through Dec. 2, with toy distribution completed by Dec. 9, according to Andorf, who has led the Perry Toys for Tots efforts for seven years.
“Perry people show their generosity every year with this program,” Andorf said, “and we know this year will be no exception. This program brings joy to some of our neediest families, who otherwise have few Christmas joys.”
Drop off collection boxes for the 2016 Toys for Tots campaign will be found at the following Perry-area businesses and public facilities:
- Farm Credit Services of America, 105 Theater Circle
- Perry Public Library, 1101 Willis Ave.
- Ben’s Five and Dime, 1221 Second St.
- Van Wall Implement, 22728 141st Drive
- Family Credit Union, 720 First Ave.
- Dollar General, 705 First Ave.
- Medicap Pharmacy, 601 First Ave.
- Shopko, 1305 141st St.
- Perry Perk Coffeehouse, 1218 Second St.
- Great Western Bank, 1111 141st St.
- Raccoon Valley Bank, 1202 Second St.
- Percival Scientific, 505 Research Drive
“All the donated toys and donated cash is spent locally on Perry children,” Andorf said. “People seem to like giving toys for the little kids, so the 14- to 16-year-olds can be harder to buy for.”
The New Opportunities Dallas County Family Development Center manages Perry’s Toys for Tots program, with John and Linda Andorf serving as the local contacts for donations and distribution.
New Opportunities anticipates about 350 local children will be in need of toys and gifts this Christmas. Monetary donations should be made out to New Opportunities.
New and unwrapped toys are needed for local children, from infants to 14-year-olds.
While toys are needed for younger children, monetary donations are accepted in order to purchase gift items for older children and Christmas food baskets.
The U.S. Marine Corps participates in the statewide Toys for Tots program and also donates many toys and games toward local needs, but more are needed than can be provided through this generous military group, Andorf said.
Andorf encouraged his fellow Perry residents to consider making an act of kindness and helping to put a smile on child’s face Christmas morning. For more information or to make a monetary donation, contact John or Linda Andorf at 515-975-1604.
Toys for Tots has been in operation since 1947, when the wife of a U.S. Marine wanted to give a homemade doll to charity. Major William Hendricks could not find a charity that gave Christmas gifts to needy children, so he started his own charity. This began the national effort and the birth of Toys for Tots.
