Downtown: “Share the Season” Toy Drive

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Story contributed by Doc Thorne, president of the Heart of Cary Association. Photo by Sheimei Barger.

Cary, NC- Patterned after the Marine Corps’ Toys-for-Tots program, the Heart of Cary’s ‘Share the Season’ Toy Drive was created last year for the purpose of getting new, unwrapped toys into the hands of children in our community who would otherwise have nothing to look forward to on Christmas morning. It’s a simple premise and one which could not be accomplished without the help and support of more than a dozen businesses throughout the Downtown area.

78,000 in Need Here in Wake

In Wake County there is estimated to be about 78,000 homeless or near homeless individuals, with about one-third of them children. And although we are fortunate to be located in an economically better- than-average area of the county, we still have a relatively large population of families in need.

Necessities Met, Children’s Needs Not

Fortunately, here in Cary we have The Carying Place and Dorcas Ministries to assist these families with the necessities—shelter, food, fuel—helping provide what these families will need until they are able to get back on their feet again. But these are only the bare necessities. They cannot help with the little things which can turn just another day into one of enjoyment and big smiles by those younger family members often overlooked.

Last year,  we were able to fill a whole truck with toys for both The Carying Place and Dorcas Ministries with only a handful of local collection points. This year, we have nearly three-times the collection points and we hope to provide twice the amount of ‘Share the Season’ toys to the deserving children in our community.

(Above L–>R Howard Manning, Doc Thorne, Harold Elixson.)

Drive Continues through Dec 14

The ‘Share the Season’ Toy Drive started on November 1st and will run through Friday, December 14th, when HoCA volunteers will collect the toys and deliver them to The Carying Place and Dorcas Ministries. These local charities will then redistribute a few toys each to those children of their client families before Christmas Eve.

During this time of year when we become absorbed in our holiday plans and fun, the Heart of Cary hopes you will take a few minutes to consider those less fortunate than us in our community. Especially the children. We ask you please, support our drive by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy at one of the caring businesses listed below. Let’s show our younger, less fortunate citizens who could use something to smile about, just how big the heart of the Heart of Cary can be.

Please plan to visit one of the participating businesses and “Share The Season” with a new, unwrapped toy.

Participating Businesses: