Beginning today, donations of used toys and coats will be accepted at Beckley Newspapers’ offices at 801 N. Kanawha St., Beckley.

Items can be dropped into two boxes that will be set up in the vestibule; one will be marked for toys, the other for coats.

The coats will be a part of the drive by Shady Spring Middle and High school cheerleaders for coats of all sizes to be distributed at Mac’s Toy Fund’s annual party on Dec. 20 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

Other drop-off sites for coats are Kroger stores at Beaver, Harper Road and Beckley Crossing; CVS Beaver; Chick-fil-A at The Galleria, Chateau Interiors in Beckley, Big Lots in Daniels and all schools in Shady Spring. Hats, gloves and scarves also will be accepted.

The coat giveaway is just one component to Mac’s. Each child who receives an invitation to the event from the Department of Health and Human Resources will receive one new toy, one used toy, a stuffed animal and a bag of fruit.

Some ticket-holders will also receive a bicycle. Anyone who has bikes to donate can drop them off behind the convention center or at Beckley Fire Station No. 3 on Eisenhower Drive. Any repairs that are needed will be made by Boy Scout Troop 103.

Ministry groups at the Family Worship Center on Pinewood Drive are collecting hats, gloves and mittens to be given out at the party. Anyone who would like to help can contact Karen Elliott at the church.

Used toys can be dropped off at BJW Printing, 3100 Robert C. Byrd Drive, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Monetary donations are needed to pay for some aspects of the annual event. New toys, coats and fruit are just a few of the expenses. Monetary donations will be accepted through the end of the year.

Following are the most recent donors to this year’s campaign:

- Waughilla Bucy, Winifred Bucy and Samantha Link, in loving memory of our son, brother and uncle, James F. Bucy, who died of Lou Gehrig Disease on 4/29/98, $75

- Gladys Payne of Mount Hope, in memory of Matt Payne, $20

- Betty Gilbert of Daniels, $50

- William and Mary James of Ona, $25

- Dwight and Karen Zutaut of Peterstown, in memory of son Matthew Dwight Zutaut, $25

- Teresa McCoy of Lewisburg, in memory of Danny Ray Lester, $50

- Anonymous, $75

- Daryll Quesenberry of Beckley $35

- Eddie and Theresa Stafford of Beckley, for grandsons Luke, Dillon, Levi and Jaxon, $25

- Sue and Rick Fazio of Beckley, $150

- James Eddins of Beckley, $25

- Bailey’s Auto Repair of Beckley, $100

- Freda Soter of Beckley, in memory of Sula Soter, $50

- Charlene Moran Sizemore, in loving memory of Glen Moran and Bob Sizemore, $25

- Pat and Tom Mitsoyianis of Beckley, on behalf of grandsons Tyler, Todd and Trey McGraw, and in memory of Catherine Mitsoyianis, $100

- Jim and Jane Smith of Beckley, in honor of grandchildren, $25



Today’s total: $855

Total to date: $5,635



Send donations to:

Mac’s Toy Fund

P.O. Box 2398

Beckley, WV 25802