The Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce has begun its annual toy drive to benefit local children in need.
Chamber members put out barrels on Nov. 1, and people are asked to drop off toys in the barrels for the drive.
“The barrels are out through the month of November,” organizer Sharon Reineri said. “We collect (toys) for babies all the way to teenagers.”
Once the toys are collected, the chamber gives half to the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District and the other half to the High Ridge Fire Protection District, and then the fire districts distribute them to area children who need Christmas gifts.
This is the 28th year the chamber has held the toy drive, and Reineri has helped organize the drive for the last seven years.
Each year, the number of toys collected grows, she said.
Cedar Hill and High Ridge firefighters will help collect toys and cash donations on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25 and 26, at the High Ridge Walmart and local Dollar General stores.
“I have a group of helpers that go shopping with me with whatever money we collect to buy more toys,” Reineri said. “We usually do most of our shopping at Walmart and then we go to Dollar General. We also purchase toys throughout the year on what we can find good deals on.”
Those interested in donating money to the toy drive may make checks payable to NWJC Chamber of Commerce, 24 Gravois Station Road, House Springs, 63051.
Reineri said the toy drive barrels will be collected on Dec. 7, in time for the Chamber’s Business After Hours celebration, which will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Pine Hollow Farms Annex, 6482 Hwy. M, in House Springs.
Reineri said admission to the event is a new, unwrapped toy. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.
The event also will include competitions between the High Ridge and Cedar Hill firefighters.
“It’s a little friendly competition,” she said. “We’ve done that each year for the past 15 years. In the past, it’s been bowling, minute-to-win games, bicycle races, basketball competitions.”
Reineri said the toys collected earlier in the day will be tallied and divvied up at the celebration.
“We put (the toys) on display for the After Hours celebration,” she said. “We split the pile right down the middle and High Ridge (Fire) takes a half and Cedar Hill (Fire) takes a half. (The pile) has grown from a table of toys to a stage of toys and now it comes out into the dance floor.”
Reineri said all of the toys donated to the drive will stay in the community.
“There’s such a need for it now these days with the economy like it is,” she said. “We appreciate everything our community does. Our community is very supportive of this because it’s for the children.”
The barrels are located at the following Cedar Hill locations:
■ Dollar General, 7900 Dittmer Catawissa Road.
■ Dollar General, 7036 Hwy. BB.
■ Cedar Hill Fire Protection District, 6766 Cedar Hill Road.
■ Enterprise Bank, 8475 Local Hillsboro Road.
■ Big River Nursing and Rehab, 6400 The Cedars Ct.
In House Springs, barrels are at:
■ Dollar General, 7 Walters Place.
■ Enterprise Bank, 4675 Gravois Road.
■ Complete Fitness, 4567 Hunter Lane.
■ Northwest R-1 Early Childhood Center, 6180 Hwy. MM.
■ State Farm Insurance Agency, 26 Gravois Station Road.
■ The Exploration Station, 3774 Hess Road.
■ The Exploration Station, 4235 Gravois Road.
Barrels are at the following High Ridge locations:
■ SSM Health Physical Therapy, 32 Dillon Plaza Drive.
■ Lindell Bank, 23 Dillon Plaza Drive.
■ Dollar General, 2713 High Ridge Blvd.
■ Pegg’s Restaurant, 1001 Crossroads Plaza.
■ High Ridge Fire Protection District, 2841 High Ridge Blvd.
■ Jefferson County Library – Northwest Branch, 5680 Hwy. PP.
■ Great Clips, 20 Dillon Plaza Drive.