Herb Emory Memorial Toys For Tots Drive, Bike Ride Set For Dec 16

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — The annual Herb Emory Memorial Toys for Tots Drive and Bike Ride is set for Saturday, Dec. 16, at Fred's Bar-B-Q in Lithia Springs. The event, which supports the Marine Corps' Toy for Tots and Douglas County's Operation Christmas, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. with kickstands up at 11 a.m. The event was originally scheduled for Dec. 9 but had to be rescheduled because of weather.

Fred's Bar-B-Q in Lithia Springs has been doing the toy drive since 1997, many years with the help of local TV and radio personality Herb Emory, and the event became the Herb Emory Memorial Drive after his death in 2014.

"This is one of the charities where the proceeds go to where they're supposed to," said Todd Harris, a family co-owner of Fred's. "We believe in giving back to the children in this community and that's what Herb believed in too. The majority of the time spent and toys gathered goes directly to the kids and that's what we like."

Last year, the event gathered 22,000 toys and Harris said this year the restaurant is already so full you can't see the walls.

Fred's Bar-B-Q is located at 541 Thornton Road, Lithia Springs, 30122.

For more information on the event, contact Fred's at 770-941-1155.

Photo courtesy Fred's Bar-B-Q.