Special to the Gazette

ASHBURN — Participating Turner County merchants and organizations have a very special addition — a “Toys for Tots” box for people to help a child within the community during the 2011 Missy Sunday Toy Drive.

The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

Once again, Turner County Connection-Communities In Schools of Turner County, Inc. has partnered with the United Way of South Central Georgia to aid those families within our county who need assistance with Christmas.

They need your help. You can become involved in several ways. The first is to simply place a new, unwrapped toy in a “Toys for Tots” box. The deadline to collect toys is Monday, Dec. 12.

Some of the businesses/organizations participating are: Ashburn Police Department, Badcock Furniture, Barnes Electric, Board of Education, Calhoun Produce, Chamber of Commerce, City of Ashburn, Colony Bank, Dollar General, Farmer’s Furniture, French Market, Health Plus, Parker Chevrolet, Pat’s Place, Phoebe Clinic, R&M Cash Drugs, Raines Pharmacy, Rite Aid Drug Store, Shoney’s of Ashburn, Turner County Courthouse Annex, Turner Co. Pre-K/Elementary/Middle/High Schools, Waffle House and Wiregrass Farmer. For a complete listing, call 567-2537.

Another way you may help is through a monetary donation. These donations are accepted in order to make sure that each age category has a gift and no child in the family is left out. Monetary donations may also go toward purchasing non-perishable food items to include with Christmas gifts.

If you wish to make a donation, please make your checks payable to Turner County Connection/Toy Drive or Turner County Connection/Food Drive. You can also deliver your checks to the offices of Turner County Connection. The deadline for accepting monetary donations is Monday, Dec. 12. Organizations or businesses are also encouraged to hold food drives in order to help. Please contact the office at 567-2537 if you wish to do so.

If you know of a family who truly deserves assistance, applications may be picked up at Turner County Connection-Communities In Schools of Turner County, Turner County DFACS or the Health Department. Proof of income must be provided in order to complete the application process. The deadline for applications is Friday, Dec. 2.

Turner County Connection-Communities In Schools of Turner County is located at the Turner Co. Special Services School, 330 Gilmore Street in Ashburn.