When asked to describe what Toys for Tots at Christmas means to her, Cherrie Carney recalled an emotional moment with a needy child and a certain local sports team.

“A couple years ago, the Atlanta Falcons were doing an event for foster children, and distributed toys,” said Carney. “One little boy opened his presents and said, ‘Do I get to keep these? I’ve never had Christmas.’ It just brought tears to my eyes. It’s just heartbreaking to imagine kids without Christmas.”

The Marine Corps Toys for Tots program is in full swing, both locally and nationwide. Volunteers for the endeavor are hopeful that Henry County residents will pitch in once again to brighten the holidays for children in need.

Toys For Tots is a Marine Corps Reserve program, now in its 71st year. Volunteers with the program collect new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to children in need. Drop-off points for the program locally include all QuikTrip and Publix locations, all Georgia State Patrol offices and members of the Metro Atlanta Auto Dealer Association. Donations can also be made online at atlantatoysfortots.org.

Carney is an assistant coordinator for the Atlanta Toys for Tots campaign, which includes Henry County. She said the Atlanta region’s Toys for Tots campaign has been particularly successful over the years.

“There are now 812 Toys for Tots campaigns in the country, and the Atlanta campaign is the largest in the nation,” said Carney. “In 2017, we distributed over 859,000 toys. That’s in 18 metro Atlanta counties, and that serves over 400,000 kids.”

Carney also noted that the creation of a single gift led to the launch of the nationwide, decades ago.

“In 1947, there was a major whose name was Bill Hendricks, and his wife had made a homemade doll, and she wanted to give it to a child at Christmas,” said Carney. “They couldn’t find an organization to give it to a child, so Maj. Hendricks and some of his local Marine reservists collected 5,000 toys that year and gave them to needy children, and that’s where it was born. Then in 1948, they launched the national campaign.”

Carney began volunteering with Toys for Tots nine years ago, when she met campaign coordinator Kelly Wilson. Carney said it didn’t take much convincing Wilson for her to jump on board.

“It’s 400,000 kids,” said Carney. “How can you not help?”

She added that Henry County has been fruitful for the organization, as evidenced by donations collected in the area during the 2017 Toys for Tots campaign.

“We worked with 74 agencies in Henry, and distributed 25,000 toys to 12,500 children in the county,” said Carney.

Still, Carney said the current needs at Toys for Tots are particularly significant during this holiday season. She called on area residents to assist in meeting the needs of children at Christmas.

“Our numbers are down this year, so we need a really big push in the next couple weeks for toys, monetary donations and volunteers,” said Carney.

For more information, call 678-887-5179, e-mail christmastoys@att.net, or visit atlantatoysfortots.org.