Beech Tree News Network

"We cannot say enough about the support we received in Butler County.”  –FRYSC's Melissa Glass.

Smiles were plentiful last week as many in the community came together to support Toys for Tots, which resulted in gifts for over 350 local children.  The event was held at the Butler County Education Complex on December 15.

To qualify for participation in Toys for Tots, families had to complete a variety of tasks provided by the local school district and/or local businesses. Tasks included taking a cooking class, finance class, etc.

Someone from each participating family had to be present at the event.  Each individual was assisted by a personal shopper as they visited each shopping station. 

Those  stations included Wish, Underwear/Socks, Stocking Stuffers, Warm Items, Board Games, Movement, Book, Stuffed Animals.  

–The Wish Station – family members wrote one item they wished they could get for their child and those were placed on a Wish Tree within the community. 

–The Underwear/Socks Station – a family member received a pair of underwear and socks for each child.

–Stocking Stuffer Station – BCHS students gathered stocking stuffer items and those present were able to pick 2 items per kid.

–Warm Items Station – Donations made by Knights of Columbus and Butler County Knitters and Crocheters.  Items included coats, gloves, hats, mittens, and other winter items.

–Board Game Station – BCMS Beta students donated.  Able to pick 1 board game for family.

–Movement Station – This station promotes movement and exercise as they are giving balls, hula hoops, jump ropes, etc.  Pick 1 for family 

–Book Station – Half-Price Books from Bowling Green donated books.  Allowed to pick 1 book for each child.

–Stuffed Animals Station – Donations were made by the community.  Each person was allowed 1 stuffed animal for each child. 
 

Gifts separated by age and price and volunteers from First Baptist Church were there to wrap presents for those in attendance.  Adam Williams and Tammy Spurgeon were there to capture family photos and gave the head of each family and children their own copy of the photograph.  

Butler County Schools, Butler County Family Resource and Youth Services Center, BC Drug Free, First Baptist Church, and many others in the community were there to volunteer.  
 

“We cannot say enough about the support we received in Butler County from Toys for Tots,” said Melissa Glass, with the Butler County Family Resource and  Youth Service Center.  “Two United States Marines assisted us in distributing and carrying toys for the families.”