It was a wonderful Christmas season locally for Toys for Tots. Through many ministries and organizations such as Angel Tree, BAYCB, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Sisters Program, CASA Women’s Shelter, Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeast Arkansas, Claus & Effect, Department of Human Services, Highland Ministries, New Edinburg Community Center, Pine Bluff New Life Church, Jefferson Regional Medical Center, TOPPS, and many others, we were able to distribute 3,740 toys, 2,541 books and 474 stocking stuffers, bringing smiles to over 3,500 children in Cleveland, Jefferson and Lincoln counties and the cities of Fordyce and Stuttgart.
A big thank-you goes out to all those who graciously donated their time and/or resources to help make this possible. We especially wish to thank Charles Rodgers and Randy Morgan with the Cleveland County Veterans Association who, through countless hours, helped with sorting and distributing; Theresa Orso with Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Felicia Williams and SFC Smithers with the Arkansas National Guard and the Watson Chapel High School JROTC who helped man several toy collection booths in Pine Bluff, and the Star City High School students who helped man toy collection booths in Star City; our corporate sponsors FBT Bank and Ollie’s, along with Dollar General and the many local small businesses which donated resources and/or space for posters and collection boxes; and the Rison United Methodist Church which donated space for collecting, sorting and distributing toys and books.
I would also like to personally recognize the exemplary efforts of this year’s Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador, Kymberly Yarnell, who was cheerfully at all the collection booths and many area events greeting people with a smile, and Marquis Yarnell, who represented the Arkansas National Guard at all the collection booths and many area events and also helped sort and distribute all the toys and books.
We now turn our attention toward the start of the 2025 Toys for Tots Literacy Campaign, which was established in 2008 as a year-round effort to offer our most economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and communicate effectively. Literacy forms the foundation of communication and impacts many areas of a child’s life such as learning, interacting with others, and their ability to work later in life.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Toys for Tots Literacy Program not only brings the joy of reading to less fortunate children, but also serves as an important tool in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Every donation to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program benefits local children in need or the libraries, schools, and existing programs that serve them. Providing children’s books to families will offer these children a fun way to close the reading gap and help improve their academic success. Literacy is the foundation for success in life and Toys for Tots wants every child to experience the joy of reading.
If you have a new or slightly used picture book, reading book, or textbook that could use a new home, please drop it off at the Cleveland County Herald Office or the Rison United Methodist Church. Additionally, if your business would like to make a tax-deductible donation to assist us with our local efforts, please make checks or money orders out to Toys for Tots and send them to P.O. Box 199, Rison, AR 71665, or donate online at https://pine-bluff-ar.toysfortots.org.
Matthew Yarnell is Toys for Tots coordinator for Cleveland, Jefferson and Lincoln counties.