Community Corner
MUST Ministries seeking toys, necessities for children in need
The organization is calling on the community to help provide a special Christmas for underprivileged children in Cobb and Cherokee counties.
On Christmas morning, 4,200 underprivileged children in Cobb and Cherokee counties will discover presents underneath the tree thanks to MUST Ministries and its generous supporters. The organization’s three Christmas Toy Shops allow parents who may not otherwise be able to provide Christmas gifts for their children to shop at no cost in a department store-style environment.
Because the toy shops’ inventory relies entirely on donations from the community, MUST is collecting new and unwrapped toys, blankets and winter wear. Some of the most needed items include:
- socks, underwear, hats, coats, gloves, scarves and pajamas
- stuffed animals
- ethnically diverse dolls
- board and electronic games
- books, bikes and jewelry
- cameras and electronics
- sports equipment
- gifts for teens and tweens
MUST also welcomes donations of baby boxes for the toy shops’ youngest recipients. These wrapped, topless cardboard boxes can include diapers, bottles, rattles, sleepers and other infant necessities. Currently, the MUST Toy Shop is the only local gift-giving program that serves children younger than age one and teenagers older than 16.
Find out what's happening in Mariettafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“No child deserves to go empty-handed on Christmas Day, and no parent deserves the anguish of being unable to provide gifts for their children,” said MUST President and CEO Ike Reighard. “That is why I treasure the opportunity MUST Ministries has in bringing a joyous Christmas to these families. I would encourage anyone who has the gift of giving to join MUST in helping so every child finds something special under the tree on Christmas Day.”
Donations can be dropped off at MUST Donation Center at 55 Chastain Road, Suite 110, in Kennesaw between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Dec. 22. Donations are most needed before the Toy Shops open on Dec. 8.
Find out what's happening in Mariettafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
For a full list of needed items and instructions, as well as information about group volunteer opportunities, visit www.mustministries.org and click on “Toy Shop.”
MUST Ministries is a non-profit, faith-based organization helping 30,000 people a year in our community break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by providing basic necessities such as food, housing, employment and clothing, free of charge.
