The United States Marine Crops Reserve’s Toys for Tots Pike County campaign is under way and headed toward an early deadline this year.

Sherri Senn-Wiggins, campaign organizer, said the campaign is being directed through the Pike County School System this year, making it necessary to get the toys delivered by Dec. 18 when school dismisses for Christmas vacation.

“This is a new way of taking applications for our Toys for Tots campaign and, so far, we have been extremely pleased,” Senn-Wiggins said. “This year, I contacted the guidance counselors at the different schools for a list of students whose family might need and appreciated assistance with their Christmas giving. The idea was that counselors and teachers, who work with the students on a daily basis, would have first-hand knowledge of the needs and then we could work to fill those needs.”

Four Pike County schools are participating in the Toys for Tots campaign.

“Pike County and Goshen elementary schools and high schools are participating,” Senn-Wiggins said. “Banks was already involved in similar program within their schools.”

Senn-Wiggins said the number of families that will be assisted through the Toys for Tots school campaign will probably reach 100.

“We also took applications from local churches so we could have even more than that,” she said.

Michelle Taylor, GES guidance counselor, said she was excited to be a part of making Christmas special for families in need.

“We made our parents aware that there are Toys for Tots collection boxes at our schools and they have been very generous in their giving, both toys and money,” she said. Troy University has also been involved in the Toys for Tots campaign through its Greek organizations under the leadership of LaCheston Moore, a member of Phi Beta Sigma.

“The Greeks were asked to make donations to Toys for Tots and the top fundraiser was Delta Sigma Theta sorority,” Moore said. “Deliveries will be made to the schools at the end of the week but we’ll still have needs up until Christmas Eve,” she said.

“Drop boxes are at Wal-Mart, Troy Bank & Trust, First National Bank, Goshen Town Hall and the Witherington and Pinckard insurance offices for the convenience of anyone who would like to donate a new toy to help make Christmas special for children in need.

For more information, contact Senn-Wiggins at 334-344-0625.