Student councils join for toy collection

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Last year the student council members of Cloverdale High School and South Putnam High School joined together to collect Christmas toys for area kids.

The two groups met Monday afternoon at South Putnam to kickoff their campaign by accepting a $500 check from Marie Leach and the Return a Gift program.

Student Council members Whitney Bond from Cloverdale High School, Sarah Holloway from South Putnam High School, Megan Matthews from Cloverdale and Tabitha Arnold from South Putnam stopped wrapping gifts long enough to accept a $500 check from Marie Leach and the Return a Gift program. This is the second year for the joint effort between the schools to provide toys to kids.

The schools will officially begin taking donations of cash, gently used toys and new toys as well as hats and gloves beginning Nov. 10.

Items can be dropped off at either school. Once all the toys are gathered they will be wrapped and distributed on Dec. 11.

"The project was and has been a huge success thanks to members of our communities," said Cloverdale's Malinda Mann, who coordinates the event along with Becky Brothers from South Putnam High School.

Donations from the Chalk Art Bash held in September were presented to the Return a Gift program, which has been in Putnam County since about 1991.

The program began with Julie Burns who was an orphan growing up.

"She wanted to give something back in return so she got a group together to arrange a party for kids," explained Leach.

"All the food got donated, so Jack Dalton, who also helped start the program, asked me to take the money and buy hats, gloves and coats. It just grew out of that," said Mann.

Today, the program operates off the money invested through the Putnam County Foundation.

"This just always makes my Christmas," said Leach

Cloverdale High School has been buying gifts for kids for many years but last year the school decided to join with South Putnam High School and work together.

"Anyone can donate cash or toys. We'll have one or two big wrapping parties and then distribute the gifts," said Mann.

For information call Becky Brothers at South Putnam High School at 653-3148 or Malinda Mann at Cloverdale High School at (765) 795-4203.

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