Fire Department: Toys For Tots Donation Drive a 'Success'

The Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services' campaign to collect toy donations for children has been labeled a "definite success."

About 30 boxes and 50 garbage bags were overflowing with "thousands" of toys collected from Cherokee County fire stations, which they will donate to the Atlanta Toys For Tots Program. 

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services on Thursday gathered all the toys dropped off by the public at its various fire stations, all of which served as drop-off locations for the program. 

The fire department collected so many toys that the donation bags and boxes completely filled the 20-foot long and 9 1/2-foot tall truck.

"Words cannot describe the outpouring of love, generosity, teamwork, support and dedication that this entire fire department has shown for the children who are in need this year," Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather said, adding the program was a "definite success." 

The toys on the truck were taken to a distribution center on Thursday. 

For the last 65 years, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has delivered a message of hope to less fortunate children through the simple act of providing a new toy across the country. 

The Atlanta Toys for Tots Program is anticipating another successful season in 2012 and is working with local agencies to bring the joy of Christmas to the children in Atlanta.

Atlanta Toys for Tots is a local affiliate of the national program and helps needy families throughout the metro-Atlanta area by playing an active role in the development of one of the nation's most valuable natural resources – children.

The organization seeks to unite community members in a common cause each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign to better local communities in the future.