Published: November 27, 2009 08:40 am      

Mac's Toy Fund

With Thanksgiving behind us — it’s on to the next holiday.

Old Saint Nick is supposed to be up at the North Pole handcrafting millions of toys to deliver to kids around the globe in less than a month.

For some children, these gifts will never make it under the Christmas trees without Mac’s Toy Fund.

Mac’s was founded in 1930 by Beckley Post-Herald editor Ted “Mac” McDowell to provide underprivileged children with toys at Christmas.

Seventy-nine years later, the tradition is still alive.

The day after Thanksgiving signifies the annual kickoff for Mac’s.

Community leaders and residents will start coming together to make sure every child in Raleigh County has a Christmas.

Even the youngsters participate.

Last year, local Boy Scouts refurbished old bicycles and a team of cheerleaders collected hundreds of coats and mittens for those less fortunate.

And who could forget the inmates at the federal prison in Beckley? They handcrafted dollhouses, rocking horses and other wooden toys that would go for top dollar in almost any children’s boutique. Year after year, the inmates’ handcrafted gifts continue to be the first to go.

Each year, more and more families line up at the door.

In 2008, nearly 1,800 families were afforded both new and used toys, refurbished dolls, bicycles, fresh fruit, dental hygiene kits, smoke detectors, gloves and winter coats.

This year, the need for Mac’s is greater than ever.

According to the Department of Health and Human Resources, a record-breaking 4,100 invitations will be mailed out to families in need.

“It’s a sign of the times,” said Dawn Dayton, Mac’s Toy Fund president.

“But that is why Mac’s exists, to take care of these kids. But we will need the help — both in dollars and volunteers’ time — to pull off a party that can serve that many children.”

Toys are more expensive this year, due in part to problems with lead paint used in items imported from China and the high cost of petroleum, which is used to make plastics, Dayton said.

“With that many invitations going out, we will be up against the wall.”

But she says she has little doubt the people of southern West Virginia will meet and surpass the fundraising goal of $25,000.

“We’ve been through other tough years,” Dayton said, “but our donors have never let us down. And I don’t expect them to this time.”

Last year when the recession was in full force, a new goal for donations was set.

Dayton hopes people are as generous this year.

“The need is greater than ever,” Mac’s Toy Fund vice president Pete Torrico said.

“Always in the past, the people of Raleigh County have stepped up and I’m sure they will do it again this year.”

Bike donations are being accepted at Beckley Fire Station No. 3 on Eisenhower Drive and behind the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

Unwrapped new and used toys are being accepted at The Register-Herald, BJW Printing and the Beckley Sam’s Club.

New and used coats, mittens, hats and scarves are being accepted at 17 locations in Raleigh County, including Chateau Interiors in Beckley; Kroger at Beaver, Harper Road and Beckley Crossing; CVS in Beaver; Walgreens in Beaver; Big Lots in Beckley; Chick-fil-A at Beckley Galleria; Family Coin Laundry; Raleigh General Hospital; The Register-Herald; Starbucks; and all Shady Spring schools.

“We never have enough coats for small children in need,” said Dana Blankenship, who organizes the toy fund coat drive on behalf of the Shady Spring middle and high school cheerleaders.

For the second year, Family Coin Laundry has donated its services. It will be cleaning all of the collected coats for free.

New to Mac’s this year is Guardian Auto Glass.

Through Dec. 19, the business will donate 5 percent of all in-house jobs to Mac’s Toy Fund.

“We always do something in our community,” Guardian account manager Clint Fisher said.

“Last year, all of our employees helped give the gifts at the giveaway. This year, we wanted to do something financially for them. It’s a very humbling experience,” Fisher said.

Monetary donations are needed to make the event possible each year.

Donations can be mailed to: Mac’s Toy Fund, P.O. Box 2398, Beckley, WV 25802. They will be accepted through the end of the year.