Toys for Tots collecting gifts for 2016

Nov. 29--Toys for Tots of Grayson, Fannin and Cooke Counties is up and running for the 2016 holiday season. Jacqueline Stephens, local contact for the nonprofit said it just held a motorcycle run at Texoma Harley -- Davidson on Sunday to start it's annual campaign.

"I think there were 212 entries and we collected around 150 toys," she said of the event that kicked off the season for the organization. "It is just one of many events scheduled this year."

A look at the organization's website lists the Denison Elk's Lodge dinner starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3 as the next event. The cost for the event is $10 per plate or a $10 toy donation. The site also lists an event starting at noon on Dec. 12 at the Eagles Club in Denison. The event features a silent auction, BBQ dinner and T-shirt sales.

Stephens said the organization has had 4,500 families sign up so far, though applications are still being taken. She said they expect to need toys for around 6,000 children this season, which is fairly comparable number to last year.

Stephens said Toys for Tots of Grayson, Fannin and Cooke Counties takes donated toys by gender and age groups and the toys they need the most are infants and older kids, those 9 and above. The cut-off age for Toys for Tots is 12 years old.

Toys for Tots of Grayson, Fannin and Cooke Counties doesn't take applications for assistance directly. The website denison-tx.toysfortots.org lists the agencies that take sign-up information for Toys for Tots.

The following toy drop off locations were listed on the organization's website in Sherman: KXII-TV Studio, Advantx Home Care Inc., Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health, A Touch of Class Antique Mall, All Dollar General Stores, Best Buy, Boot Barn, Bob Utter Ford, Brian Kimberlin Insurance Agency, Creed Canyon Apartments, CVS Pharmacy,Dayton Tire, Dennard's, Discount Tire, Dress Barn, First Texoma National Bank, Five Below, Gander Mountain, Grayson County College, Holiday Inn Express, Hoyte Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Hutchins Plumbing, Knight's Furnitur, Lifeway Christian Bookstore, Lone Star Food Store/Dickey's BBQ, Lone Star Food Store/Exxon, North Side on Travis (apartments), Parkway Buick GMC, Pecan Point Assisted Living, Peak Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, Preston House Assisted Living, Ramey Chevrolet, Red River Firearms LLC, Sherman Texas Oncology, Stone Creek Golf Club, Texas Department of Transportation (Sherman Area), Texoma Council of Government, Texoma Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, The Renaissance/Assisted Living, The Willows, TitleMax, Total Health Chiropractic, USMC Recruiter, VFW Sherman, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart.

Toy drop off locations in Denison include:All Dollar General Stores, First United/American Bank, Bi-Lo Wholesale, Blake Utter Ford, Bonner Chevrolet, Bratcher Funeral Home, Central Fire Station, Chicken Express, Classic of Texoma, Clayton Homes, Cotton Patch Cafe, Creekmore Apartments, CVS Pharmacy, Dance Xplosion & the Stingerettes, Denison Elk's Lodge #238, Denison Industries, Denison Texas Oncology, Eagles Club, Eric Batey, Inc., Fat Daddy's, Five Star Storage, Grandpappy's Point & Marina, Grayson Place (formerly Katy House), Independent Bank, J & S Pawn, Judy's Flower Shoppe, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Loose Wheels, Neitling Optical, P.A, Nick's Restaurant, North Rig Grill, Sandra Phillips, State Farm Agent, Texoma Dental Care, TMC Rehab & Wellness Services, Trinity United Methodist Church, Twin Oaks Nursery, Wal-Mart and Wood Forest Bank (inside Wal-Mart).

In Gainesville, toys can be dropped off at Glenn Polk Autoplex, Lexington Apartments, Summit Senior Village, Tractor Supply and VitaMoose Sports Nutrition.

Toy drop off locations in Pottsboro areFirst United/American Bank, Brookshires, Church of Christ, Dollar General (two locations), Ed Jones, Elk's Lodge # 238 Lakeside, Family Pharmacy, Highport Marina, Johnny C's Italian Restaurant, Little Mineral, Napoli's Restaurant & Bar, Pamela Moore Dentistry, Pottsboro ISD -- Elementary; Pottsboro Public Library, Preston Center Exxon Station, PVES/Fire Dept., Tanglewood Resort, Tackle Box, and VFW # 7873 Lakeside.

In Bonham, toys can be dropped off at American Bank, Fannin Bank of Bonham, Legend Bank, Nautilus Total Fitness, Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterns Center.

In Tom Bean, toys can be dropped off at First National Bank; Dollar General and KC Foods. In Whitesboro toys can be dropped off at Axtell Rite-Value Pharmacy, Brookshire Brothers, D&D Hobby Shop, Dennard's Farm Store and Dollar General. In Gordonville, toys can be dropped off at Cedar Mills Marina, Dollar General, Sherwood Shores Baptist Church and Sherwood Shores Chapel. In Howe, toys can be dropped off at Abby's, Dollar General, the police station and School Zone Academy. In Collinsville, toys can be dropped off at Dollar General. In Van Alstyne, toys can be dropped off at Dollar General, Neitling Optical -- Dr. Neitling and Van Alstyne Family Practice. In Whitewright, toys can be dropped off at Corby's Convenience Store, Dollar General and SpringMart. In Bells, toys can be dropped off at First National Bank and Exxon Station.

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(c)2016 the Herald Democrat (Sherman, Texas)

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