Published: November 19, 2008 11:08 pm      

Mac’s Toy Fund campaign kicks off

For those who haven’t already started — on Black Friday, deemed the biggest shopping day of the year, most will begin holiday shopping in hopes of nabbing those must-have sale items on their holiday lists.

As southern West Virginians brave the crowded stores, Mac’s Toy Fund officials hope they’ll take a second to think about less fortunate children in the area who may not get to celebrate Christmas with a tree surrounded by wrapped presents.

On Dec. 20, the toy fund, now in its 78th year, will transform the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center into “West Virginia’s largest toy store” for three hours.

Made possible through monetary and new and used toy donations, several church, civic and school organizations, as well as The Register-Herald, the fund’s major sponsor, the toy fund will furnish underprivileged children with Christmas gifts.

Coats, new and used toys, bicycles, fruit baskets, candy and a toothbrush and toothpaste are among the items that will be dispersed to close to 2,000 families who receive invitations, determined by need, from the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

Established in 1930 by Beckley Post-Herald editor Ted “Mac” McDowell, who didn’t like the idea of some children not getting toys on Christmas, Mac’s Toy Fund is now collecting donations.

Donations will be accepted at BJW Printing & Office Supplies, 3100 Robert C. Byrd Drive, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The toy fund will be accepting monetary donations, toys, coats and bicycles at this location.

Monetary donations can also be mailed to Mac’s Toy Fund, The Register-Herald, P.O. Box 2398, Beckley WV 25802 or taken to Chick-fil-A in Beckley.

The toy fund will be accepting donations through Dec. 13.

— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com