By James B. Bartle
The annual Meramec Community Mission Toy Drive is in it’s final weeks as the drive to help some 400 local children will conclude on Dec. 15.
The annual charity event is chaired by the Sullivan Fire District, Missouri Baptist Ambulance and sponsored by KTUI Radio/Fidelity Channel 6 and the Sullivan Independent News.
“We’re starting to get some donations in this past week, but we still have a long way to go,” said Rich White, Sullivan fire chief. “We will have our December open house at Station One on Thursday, beginning at 8:30 a.m., which features a free breakfast where we accept donations for the toy drive. We will also have rifle raffle tickets on sale with all proceeds benefiting the toy drive.”
White stated that with the economy still dragging and many more children needing their help this year it is providing for tough year.
“We know it’s tough out there and we want to be able to help our area children as much as possible. We need the public’s help once again,” said White. “We have children of all ages, along with young teens, that we want to make sure they have a gift on Christmas Day.”
White stated that anyone who would like to make a donation may do so by calling the Sullivan Fire Dept. at 573-468-6161 or at several toy drive drop-off locations that include: Sullivan Fire House Station One, Chamber of Commerce, KTUI Radio, Sullivan Independent News, Bank of Sullivan, First State Community Bank, Fidelity Communications, Peoples Bank, Missouri Baptist Hospital-Sullivan, Sullivan Family Dentistry, and American Family Insurance.
“We appreciate all the support we receive year-round from our citizens and ask that they help us one more time in 2009,” said White.