Santa will be taking their toys to A Friend's Place

Toy drive helps children in women's shelter

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — In the area, there will be dozens of children spending the holiday at a place their mothers know is safer than their own homes.

Carla Crocker, outreach advocate for the Southeast Missouri Family Violence Council’s A Friend’s Place, said 57 children have turned in wish lists for Christmas. The women’s shelter is in need of Christmas gifts for children from 6 months old to 15 years old.

For the third year, Tim Morgan of Auffenberg is helping out. He’s hosting a toy drive for the family violence council, which serves Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Madison, Washington and Iron counties.

Morgan said the first year, they collected a truck load of toys and last year, they collected two truck loads. The goal this year is to collect three truck loads of toys.

On Saturday, Auffenberg employees, council volunteers and J-98 were out collecting toys and other donations for the Southeast Missouri Family Violence Council at Wal-Mart stores in Desloge, Potosi and Fredericktown.

The Fredericktown Wal-Mart and 7-Up donated $1,000 in toys to the cause.

Desloge Mayor David Kater heard about the toy drive and purchased a cart full of toys for boys and girls. The toys ranged from inexpensive toy cars to Barbie dolls.

Others purchased one item or two for the toy drive and volunteers were just as happy.

Anyone who would still like to donate may drop off their donations at Auffenberg during regular business hours until Dec. 22. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Morgan said if they can’t bring it, you can call Auffenberg at 573-756-5776 and they’ll pick it up. They prefer new toys, but used toys in good condition can be used on the shelter’s playground.

Crocker said there are many ways people can help the family violence council. One option is to request a child’s wish list and purchase things off that list. For more information about getting a child’s wish list, call 573-358-3913.

The toys they receive from the toy drive also can be matched up with the children’s wish lists for Christmas and many will be saved for birthday presents throughout the year.

The eighth annual B104 holiday drive is currently collecting everyday household items for the shelter.

“A list of what we need is on their Web site,” Crocker said. The Web site is http://www.b104fm.com

Crocker said organizations can also help out by helping mothers make crafts or bake cookies for the children.

She said the Elks Lodge on Manchester Road in St. Louis County held a trivia night to raise money to host a Christmas party for the children this weekend. The party includes Santa and food from McDonalds.

Artistic Images in Park Hills is taking Christmas pictures of the families and is giving them free photos as their Christmas gift.

The family violence council provides residential service to more than 300 women and children each year. It answers nearly 100 crisis calls each month and provides case management and outreach services to more than 100 families each year.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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