Toys for Tots ensures Christmas for all

After a three-year hiatus, Jack County Toys for Tots is up and running again with its mission to leave no child without something under the tree this Christmas.

VFW Post 8914 Commander Daniel Stubblefield is the new Jack County Toys for Tots coordinator.

He said the local post discontinued the outreach project in 2012 because the national organization required each coordinator to attend a training in Virginia and there was no one from the post that was able to go.

After three season without it, starting the project up again has been difficult.

“It’s like starting from scratch — developing the contacts and relationships to get everybody motivated,” Stubblefield said. “It was like starting over.”

When he went to place donation boxes around town, he heard some concerns from business people.

“The questions have been, is this for Jack County?” Stubblefield said. “During the time we did not do Toys for Tots, Azle and Wichita Falls came in. People were donating to it thinking it was for Jack County and toys were going out of the community.

“Now, everything donated will go to a kid in our community.”

And since volunteers have begun accepting applications from parents seeking toys for their children, the requests have been pouring in. As of Tuesday, 462 children were registered. 

“We would like to give everybody three $30 toys,” said Assistant Coordinator Ken Hargrave. “If we can’t do that, we have some contingencies, but that is the maximum dollar amount Toys for Tots allows us to give. But there is no limit on the number of toys we can give.”

The eligible ages are children from 0-18 years old. Applications are due Dec. 9 and are available at Jacksboro Newspapers, the VFW, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jacksboro Elementary School and online at jacksboro-tx.toysfortots.org.

Any applications received after that date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“Our goal is for every child in this county to wake up with a Christmas present,” Hargrave said. 

Toys for Tots has a few fundraisers and toy drives planned. Right now, volunteers are selling tickets for a prize drawing of a SCCY 9mm pistol with trigger locks for $5 for 1 or $20 for 5.

The drawing will take place at the end of the Toys for Tots fundraising event set for Saturday evening at the VFW.

The event will kick off at 4 p.m. with Santa and the Jacksboro Fire Department’s antique truck on hand for children visit. At 5 p.m., a spaghetti dinner will be served and Hired Guns will provided live music beginning at 7 p.m. There will also be a live auction. 

All is included for a $10 entry fee or the donation of a toy.

If you cannot make it to this weekend’s event, toys may be donated at several locations around town including Shopko, Tractor Supply, Nash Hardware, Outfitter Gun and Supply, Casa Grande, the Jacksboro Fire Department, the Jack County Courthouse, Jacksboro City Hall, Fred’s, Dollar General, the VFW and more.

There will also be a bike rally Sunday, Dec. 4. The Mike Kidd and Friends 3rd Annual Dual Sport ride will benefit Jack County Toys for Tots this year. 

Registration will begin on the Courthouse Square at noon and the 85-mile ride consisting of 80 percent dirt roads begins at 1 p.m. To ride, bring an unwrapped toy or make a $20 donation.

Another opportunity to donate will take place during the Christmas on the Square event before and after the parade Thursday, Dec. 8.

There are also dollar donation spots near cash registers in the community.

As a part of the national Toys for Tots Foundation, local organizers can make monetary donations go farther by buying toys at cost.

Organizers plan to distribute the toys by appointment December 16-18 and volunteers are needed. Call Hargrave at 940-351-0040 to lend a hand.

Parents will be given the opportunity to “shop” for their child’s toys.

“Parents know what their kids want or need more than we do. Also, I plan to do this for years to come and I don’t want the kid to get the same toy every time,” Stubblefield said.

During distribution, no kids will be allowed in the VFW Meeting Hall and parents are asked to wrap at least one of the gifts to come from Santa.

“Overall, any year, this program is important,” Stubblefield said.

“But particularly this, I know things are looking up following the election, but there’s still a lot of economic hardship,” Hargrave said.