Toys for Tots and All His Children Angel Tree visits Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Breckenridge received a visit from Toys for Tots and the All His Children Angel Tree during the Tuesday, December 15, weekly meeting.

Doug Beaty, Staff Sergeant of the Marine Corps Reserve and Toys for Tots Coordinator for Stephens County, has coordinated the toy collection and distribution for 32 years. Will Thompson, Director of All His Children (AHC), was also a guest for the club, and informed club members that they help children throughout the year with items like school supplies, clothes, and sometimes medications.

“We decided to start doing this in 1988, and the Marine Corps made me a coordinator” Doug Beaty, Toys for Tots Coordinator for Stephens County, said. “Integrity is everything we do, and we wanted to provide kids with the needed toys to enjoy the holidays.”

Last year these programs provided toys for over 300 kids and are seeing a large need again this year. Yuri Huntington, Rotary Club President, presented Beaty with a check for $200, a new bicycle, and several new toys from the Rotary Club to help with the Toys for Tots drive this year.

The largest need during the Christmas season is items such as school supplies, clothes, and medications. The groups contribute to serving children in two categories—ages 0-12 and 12 to 18. The focus is on things to wear, read, and the needs of the child.

All His Children coordinates with Toys for Tots to provide age-appropriate toys for kids. This year, the groups have a high need and will be buying for 151 children under 12, assisting 90 in the over 12 age group, and providing for approximately 59 families.