GOOD CAUSES: Toys for Tots needs volunteers, donations

The Ledger
·2 min read
David Waller, Polk County Coordinator for Toys for Tots, right, introduced country music performer Patrick Gibson and his band "The Fellowship" at a previous Polk County Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run. Toys for Tots needs volunteers and donations for this year.
David Waller, Polk County Coordinator for Toys for Tots, right, introduced country music performer Patrick Gibson and his band "The Fellowship" at a previous Polk County Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run. Toys for Tots needs volunteers and donations for this year.

TOYS FOR TOTS 

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program 2022 has kicked off its campaign and is seeking volunteers, donation sites and donations to help bring the joy of the Christmas season and send a message of hope to less fortunate children across Polk County. The Marine Corps League Heart of Florida Detachment #1107 located in Winter Haven is a leader among the hundreds of campaigns across the nation. David Waller, coordinator for Polk County, was recognized as Coordinator of the Year in 2020 for the United States and serves as a mentor to new coordinators. In the same year, the Polk County Campaign was recognized as the Campaign of the Year. Donation options include local sites, crowdfunding, donations in memory or honor of, “virtual toy box” online donations and checks.

All local Toys for Tots campaign donations stay 100% in Polk County. The Toys for Tots Campaign of Polk County is a non-profit community-based program that accepts donations of new, unwrapped toys, as well as monetary donations to purchase toys, and then distributes them to less fortunate children throughout Polk County at Christmas.

Applications for toy requests by families, individuals, agencies, and non-profit organizations are being accepted until Nov. 15. For more information, visit www.polkcounty-fl.toysfortots.org.

Heather Moran, owner of The Doggie Bag, is sponsoring a raffle to raise funds for local rescue groups.
Heather Moran, owner of The Doggie Bag, is sponsoring a raffle to raise funds for local rescue groups.

FUNDRAISER BENEFITS LOCAL RESCUES

Each week in November, The Doggie Bag will spotlight a local rescue organization to receive 100% of the sale of raffle tickets to raise funds for Polk rescues. Customers can purchase raffle tickets in store for a chance to win a gift basket valued at more than $250. The local rescues benefitting from the raffles are: Nov. 1-5, week one, Polk County Bully Project; Nov. 8-12, week two, Polk No Kill Coalition; Nov. 15-19, week three, Botany Cats Rescue; Nov. 22-26, week four, Humane Society of Polk County. The more you buy, the more the rescue gets and the better your chance to win a gift basket.

The Doggie Bag will celebrate "Shop in the Name of Love" with a big barking bash on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Humane Society of Polk County, the featured rescue of the week, will be onsite with adoptable animals. This will also be the last day to purchase raffle tickets. The Doggie Bag will also give customers a free gift on purchases over $50. Boss Lady Southern Eats food truck will be on site offering burgers, sandwiches, mac n' cheese and more to purchase. Kaiya Russell from Farmina Pet Foods will hand out free samples of dog and cat foods. Open weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1745 E. Edgewood Drive, Lakeland. 863-683-6220, thedoggiebag.boutique.

Send your good causes and photo (limit of five people in photo) to features@theledger.com

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Toys for Tots ready to start season