The Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Marine Corps., and Durant Noon Lions Club’s 11th annual Toy Box Drive is underway. These organizations are working together to provide under privileged children with toys and gifts for Christmas.

This year the Lions Club is asking the community to help boost donations. We expect that we will need many more toys and donations this year because of the economy, said Linda Potts, Durant Lions Club member.

The toy box drive raised $50,000 last year and served approximately 2,000 children. We expect the number of children will greatly increase this year, Potts said.

The Lions Club acquires lists from the schools in the county of children that would benefit from the gifts this year. Families who need assistance this Christmas can also sign up at the Chamber of Commerce. The deadline to sign up is Dec. 14th.

The toy drive is important because in many cases it provides children with toys on Christmas who might not be able to receive anything otherwise. “It’s a big relief for these families,” Potts said.

Both toys and financial donations are excepted and the need for gifts for teenagers are especially needed.

The Toys 4 Tots boxes can be found at many locations in Bryan county. Toys can be dropped off at any bank in Bryan County, Dollar Generals in Durant, First American Cash Advance, Dollar Tree, Bob’s Family Restaurant, The Chamber of Commerce, Jones Power Sports, American Dream Reality, Big Lots, Larry Dyson Motors, Red River Ford, Casteel’s Tire Barn, Rural Enterprises Inc., Bubba’s Catfish & Crab Shack, Mays Hospice, Friends & Co Salon, Medicine Store, Movie Gallery, Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Stitches Unlimited in Calera and Bokchito City Hall.

The cut off date to make donations for this year’s Christmas is Dec. 18th. However, you can make donations all year long. All the toys will stay in Bryan County and if there are extra toys they will be distributed to other local organizations to give out for the holidays.

“We anticipate this year to be more of a challenge but with the community support the toy drive will once again be a success,” Potts said.

For more information or donations, call Jonathan Slaten, the Lion's Toy Box treasurer, at (580) 931-6651 and The Durant Chamber of Commerce at (580) 924-0848.