By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – A nation-wide Christmas tradition took place this Christmas season including a most-successful effort right here in Randolph County when the Randolph County Marine Corp League conducted its “Toys for Tots” program. This year approximately 650 children from the area received Christmas presents as a result of the efforts of many involved with the program.
Brent Piel of Prairie Du Rocher is Commander of the Randolph County Marine Corp League. His wife, Pam is the Randolph County Coordinator of the “Toys for Tots” program. John Preston is the Assistant County Coordinator. His wife, Norma assists him in his efforts. Each city in the county also has a coordinator and Lee Hollaway is Chester’s Toys for Tots Coordinator. He and his wife Farida do an excellent job of coordinating efforts in the City of Chester.
Organizers for the 2022 Randolph County Toys for Tots initiative take a very brief break from fulfilling their many duties for a photo opportunity Saturday December 10 at the American Legion Post 847 in Chester. Pictured left to right are Brent Piel, Commander of the Randolph County Marine Corp League, Pam Piel, Randolph County Toys for Tots Coordinator. Both are from Prairie DuRocher; John Preston and Norma Preston of Red Bud, Norma is the Assistant Randolph County Tots for Tots Coordinator; and Farida and Lee Hollaway or Chester. Lee is the Chester Toys for Tots Coordinator with Farida as his Assistant. Jim Beers Photo
Commander Brent Piel said, “This year we are able to help approximately 650 children have gifts due to a year-long effort conducted by many volunteers. Vouchers are always available at local schools, food pantries and service organizations. People can get applications at each of these locations and very seldom is anyone refused acceptance.”
Lee Hollaway and his wife Farida coordinate Chester’s efforts. Lee stated, “This is a year-round effort with lots of people involved to make it all happen. People start planning and organizing next year’s toy giveaway the minute that the current giveaway concludes. It is a constant effort.”
Volunteers “shop” or fill Santa’s Christmas Gift lists Saturday December 10 at the American Legion Post 487 in Chester. Approximately 50 volunteers worked Friday, Saturday and Sunday December 9-11 to help make Christmas a bit brighter for 650 Randolph County children. The efforts were organized and coordinated by the Randolph County Marine Corp League. Jim Beers Photo
Both Piel and Hollaway are quick to turn down praise for all of the work they do. Both said, “We just coordinate the efforts of numerous volunteers. We are lucky to have so many people who assist with Toys for Tots in Randolph County. Without their help, we could not accomplish our goal of helping to make all of these children have a better Christmas.”
Piel, Preston and Hollaway were also quick to give credit to their spouses for all they do throughout the year to make it all happen.
“Our homes are constantly filled with loads of various types of gifts and other items involved with the efforts of many. Right now we have already started accepting loads of gifts for next year’s Toys for Tots program. Not everyone has a spouse that would do all that they do to assist us with our efforts!”
The Randolph County Toys for Tots program will accepts cash donations, gifts, and volunteer help throughout the calendar year. It takes a year-round effort to make it all happen. This year the Chester Eagles Eerie 3252 donated $300 to the project as did countless other individuals and organizations.
Brent Piel said, “This year we were able to serve 650 kids. We have been doing this for a long time and this year has been an exceptional year. Toys for Tots began in 1947. This year marks our 75th year of helping to make children’s Christmas a bit brighter.”
Approximately 50 volunteers worked hard being Santa’s helpers Saturday December 10th at the 2022 Toys for Tots Program. The event took place at the American Legion Post 487 in Chester where 650 gift bags for Randolph County children were created. The project is in its 75th year nation-wide and always helps to provide books, games, toys and stocking-stuffers for children. Jim Beers Photo
Farida Hollaway said, “Our basement is ‘toy central’ most of the time. When people make toy donations, several of us store them at our houses. It is not uncommon for us to have boxes and boxes of toys at our houses at any given time,”
When Toys for Tots weekend rolls around, they are eventually brought to the American Legion in Chester where they are unloaded and placed on tables according to gender, boys or girls, age, and types of toys.
On Fridays most of an entire day is dedicated to organizing the gifts at the American Legion Post 487 in Chester and the nest day on Saturday, volunteers take the children’s “wish lists” and “Shop” or fill the wishes of the children.
Piel said, “We try to match their lists with what we have. Each child receives books, games, a stocking-stuffer and toys which are both age and gender appropriate. Once items are selected, they are bagged and sorted according to the City of Randolph County in which they live.”
There are various “pick-up” points in Randolph County including the Red Bud VFW, Steeleville American Legion, Sparta Eden Baptist Church, Chester American Legion, and the Prairie DuRocher American Legion. Recipients pick up their gift bags from those location on the Sunday of Toys for Tots weekend.
Commander Piel said, “Volunteers are essential to the success of this program. We always have plenty of volunteers assist with the process. This year we have approximately 50 people volunteering to help us including school children from Chester who help load, unload and select gifts for the children.”
Lee Hollaway said, “The great thing about Toys for Tots is that 100-percent of what we collect in money or gifts goes directly to children in Randolph County. There are no administrative fees or other overhead costs. 100-percent goes to the kids!”
Planning is already underway for next year’s 2023 Christmas season when Toys for Tots will once again be there to help make Christmas a bit brighter for children in Randolph County and around the country via other Toys for Tots initiatives.