Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill 

Christmastime is a season of giving. Whether it's something tangible, like an item on a wish list, or simply giving someone your time and support, the holiday season is one of dispersing both kindness and generosity. 

In 2015, Walker County Commission Administrator Robbie Dickerson saw a need within the community. A longstanding Christmas toy drive in the community had ended, leaving no community-based charity to help provide families in need with toys for their children to open on Christmas Day. Refusing to let such a crucial problem go unsolved, Robbie teamed up with Deidre Tatum of the Walker County Community Action Agency to form the Walker County Toy Drive.

The Toy Drive has benefitted hundreds of families every holiday season since its formation. Robbie, Deidre, and their regular team of volunteers from the Community Action Agency work year-round planning the logistics of each year's toy drive: reaching out to organizations in the community for donations and sponsorship, determining the locations for donation boxes, and brainstorming how they can provide toys that are fun, yet educational and encourage activity and creativity. 

Every year, the toy drive culminates in the giveaway day, where families receive toys donated to help make their children's Christmas wishes come true.

"The most rewarding part to me is the looks on faces during giveaway day," Robbie says. "The excitement you see on a child's face, and the relief on the faces of their grown-ups…it makes all the hard work worth it."

This year's giveaway day will take place on Saturday, December 11 at 10:00 a.m. at the Walker County Community Action Agency's After School Program, located on 6th Avenue in Downtown Jasper.

If you or someone you know needs assistance from the Walker County Toy Drive, contact the Walker County Community Action Agency at (205) 221-4010.

Those interested in volunteering with and/or donating to the Toy Drive may also contact WCCAA.

You may also follow the Walker County Toy Drive on Facebook. 78