By Amy H. Mullis
While Santa and his industrious elves are wrapping up a year of preparing toys for delivery, one local group of holiday heroes is just embarking on their four-day blitz hoping to achieve the same goal.
This weekend, the Eastman Firefighters Club, for the eighth year, will turn to the community to help ensure a merry Christmas for the children of Dodge County.
Mark Sheffield, a local fireman and employee of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, is serving for the third year as coordinator of the annual Eastman Fire Department Toy Drive.
In his previous two years, he has watched as local residents have donated toys that have brought smiles to the faces of more than 800 children. This year, he hopes to see that need filled again.
“The community helped us provide Christmas gifts for about 500 children last year, and this year the need is even greater,” Sheffield said, adding that in 2007 the number of applicants for assistance was closer to 300.
Each year, Sheffield and the Eastman Firefighters Club work closely with the Department of Family and Children Services to determine which families in the community need assistance. This year, Sheffield said, they are adding another resource that will likely reveal more need.
“This year we’re going to work closely with the school board and through them, the school teachers,” he said. “As much as anyone, the teachers will know if a student needs help. Identifying the needs of young school children will help us better make sure that no child is left without a Christmas.”
Sheffield said he is aware that the past year has brought financial hardship for many people; however, it is his hope that people will see the need for what it is – children waking up on Christmas morning without gifts – and help in any way they can to overcome that need.
“Believe me, I know times are tough, but even the smallest of donations make a big difference,” Sheffield said. “Each toy we collect will bring a smile to the face of a child in need no matter how big, small, expensive, or inexpensive it is.”
Eastman firefighters will be at the Eastman Wal-Mart accepting toy donations on Friday, December 4 and Friday December 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday, December 5 and Saturday December 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Those not able to drop toys off at these times can make a donation at any of the toy drive collection boxes at the following locations: Fred’s, either Dollar General location, Family Dollar, United First Federal Credit Union, CVS, and Eastman Fire Station #2 on Main Street.
Sheffield said people have already shown their commitment to the toy drive by supporting and participating in the 2009 Eastman Firefighter’s Club Fun Run held in September.
“We had 91 motorcycles with 112 passengers and raised nearly $3,400.00 for this year’s toy drive,” Sheffield reported. “And we couldn’t have done it without the support of our 45 sponsors.”
“As always, we are so appreciative of the support the community has given the toy drive,” he added. “I know this year will be a success.”
In addition to the toy collections and drop off sites, Sheffield said there will be a pageant held to benefit the toy drive. The Dixie Divas Christmas Pageant will be held at the Magnolia Theatre in Eastman on Saturday, December 5, 2009. For more information, contact Leslie Wilkinson at 478- 231-9299.
Anyone with questions about making a donation can contact Mark Sheffield at 478-285-1321. Anyone who knows a child who may not have Christmas this year can contact the Department of Family and Children Services at 478-374-6760.
