Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Picayune toy drive begins

Plans are already being made for the Third Annual Picayune Toy Drive.

Picayune Editor John Miller spoke to the Prescott Lions Club about the drive Thursday, Oct. 7, telling how it began and how many children have received gifts because of it.

The toy drive began, he said, when the Nevada County Department of Human Services decided to quit doing its Angel Tree program. The loss of this program meant a lot of children throughout Nevada County would have few, if any, Christmas presents.

Miller, along with Lisa Martin, Picayune office manager, began working to collect new or used toys to help children have a brighter and merrier Christmas. Names, he said, were obtained through the three school districts.

More than 120 bags of toys were handed out the first year, with more than 200 bags being given out for Christmas 2004. In addition, the Picayune drive gave the Key Club enough toys for the students involved to present them to 50 children.

Miller asked the Lions to consider joining the Picayune in doing the toy drive. By doing this, he said, it could help eliminate duplications and more children could be helped. The club will take this under consideration and make a decision later.

When asked how the toys are delivered, Miller said parents are informed they must come to the Picayune office and pick them up, as it would be difficult to deliver this many toys in one day.

Typically, the toys are passed out the same day of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce holds its Breakfast with Santa. In fact, Mary Godwin, Chamber director, and the Chamber have helped out with both drives.

What has been done the past two years, is after the Breakfast with Santa event ends, those who are working to pass out toys go to the Picayune office and prepare.

Miller and Martin work with the three schools in the county to obtain the names of needy children. This year, a form will be sent home with children for parents to fill out. The form will ask for the first and last names of all children in the household, their gender and ages. By doing this, those who put the bags together can make the toys more age appropriate.

Area businesses will be contacted about making donations of either money or new toys.

Miller said good used toys will be accepted for the drive. "While we will accept used toys, they must be in good condition. If it's not something someone would want their own child to have, it shouldn't be donated to the drive. We do appreciate everyone who helps out by making the donations. Every toy we receive makes Christmas a little brighter for a child in the county."

This year, Miller said, toys will be handed out on December 18 from 12-3 p.m. at the Picayune office.