Toys for Tots Drive underway locally

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Scattered throughout the county, a number of boxes for new, unwrapped toys will help make this Christmas brighter and happier for local children in need.

The Toys for Tots campaign – an annual event supported locally by the Marine Corps League Jacksonville Texas Det. #1381 – this year has more than 50 boxes set up in Rusk, Bullard, New Summerfield, Wells and Jacksonville through Dec. 15, said organizer Juana Gobea.

“Here in Jacksonville, we have almost 200 kids who have applied through the Toys for Tots website, along with 200 in Rusk, an area church with 70 kids and 200 kids through River of Life Church in Rusk,” she said. “All toys go right back into the community.”

According to www.toysfortots.org, the foundation was created in 1991 as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit public charity, with the program collecting new unwrapped toys to distribute to less fortunate children at Christmas, with a goal of bringing them the joy of Christmas and a message of hope.

Locally, this year’s campaign is co-sponsored by River of Life Christian Center Rusk and an Angel Tree program in Jacksonville

While members of the detachment will handle the upkeep and monitoring of boxes, along with sorting, Gobea said volunteers can text her at 903-944-1120 to help sort toys.

The first distribution of toys is slated from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at People’s Church in Jacksonville.

Meanwhile, donation boxes can be found at these locations:

• Rusk

Rusk High School, 800 Salem Rd. 903-683-5401

Rusk Middle School, 1345 Main St. 903-683-2502

Farm Bureau, 845 Loop FM 343 West. 903-683-2576

Dollar General, 540 W. 6th St. 903-683-0235

The Cherokeean Herald, 595 N. Main St. 903-683-2257

Family Dollar 1106 N. Main St. 903-683-8820

Truckerz, 1204 W. 6th St. 903-683-3437

Cherokee County Airport, 420 County Road 1618. 903-586-8219

Cherokee County Electric Co-Op, 29880 U.S. Highway 69. 903-683-2248

• New Summerfield

Lake Striker RV Park, Restaurant and Marina, 18560 County Road 4256 South. 903-854-2404

Family Dollar, 21461 U.S. Highway 79 East. 903-726-2119

Bottlenecks 20760 U.S. Highway 79. 903-726-2060

• Wells

Wells City Hall & Police Department, 293 Rusk Ave. 936-867-4615

Wells schools, 160 Rusk Ave. 936-867-4400

• Jacksonville

Mission 79, 209 S Patton St. 903-589-2911

Bella’s Furniture & U-Haul, 616 W. Rusk St. 903-589-9621

River Run Park, 2001 County Road 3315. 903-724-4100

People’s Church, 14089 U.S. Highway 79. 903-589-2900

CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, 2026 S Jackson St. 903-541-4500

Tractor Supply Co., 1626 S. Jackson St. 903-586-6343

Atwoods Ranch & Home, 1824 S. Jackson St. 903-589-1111

Texas National Bank, 300 Neches St. 903-586-0931

Austin Bank, 1700 S. Jackson St. 903-589-8800

Wireless Solutions Mobile Phone Repair Shop 903-339-3024

Dollar General, 1906 S. Jackson St. 903-339-0770

Family Dollar, 602 S Jackson St. 903-339-7072

Dollar General, 1237 W. Rusk St. 903-284-5698

Angelina House, 211 Phillip Ave. 903-589-1105

Family Circle of Care, 510 E. Commerce St. 903-535-9041

Family First Clinic & Urgent Care, 2114 E. Rusk St. 903-339-3022

Bacon Auto Country, 5677 N. Jackson St. 903-285-6097

Bill McRae Ford, 1511 E. Rusk St. 903-586-2241

Jake's Market & Grill/Valero, 3201 N. Jackson St. 903-589-2650

Harry's Building Inc. 1062 N. Jackson St. 903-586-7548

Dollar General, 1042 N. Jackson St. 903-339 0812

The Gun Room, 1039 N. Jackson St. 903-541-1344

A-1 Rent All, 1038 N. Jackson St. 903-589-3696

Dyer’s Premier Portable Buildings and More, 1033 N. Jackson St. 903-721-9828

Rogue Off-Road, 1032 N. Jackson St. 903-284-6428

The Patio, 311 N. Jackson St. 903-339-6193

Adolfo's Pizza, 1311 S. Jackson St. 903-586-3100

Elliott Electric Supply, 2202 E. Rusk St . 903-586-2904

Gibson Signs, 1610 E Rusk St. 903-586-2982

Walmart Supercenter, 1311 S. Jackson St. 903-589-3434

• Bullard

Bullard High School, 1216 S. Houston St. 903- 894-3272

Bullard Intermediate School, 218 Schoolhouse Rd. 903-894-6793

Bullard Elementary School, 2008 Panther Crossing. 903-894-2930

Austin Bank, 210 N. Houston St. 903-894-6148

Texas National Bank, 524 E. Main St. 903-894-5030

Circle C Feed Store, 432 S. Doctor M. Roper Parkway. 903-894-7997

Cherokee Travel Center 655 S. Doctor M. Roper Parkway. 903-954-2534