Once again, the Christmas season is upon us. For the twenty-third year, the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office will sponsor the Stocking Full of Love toy drive. Each year the Sheriff’s Office accepts names of needy children from Catoosa County schools, civic organizations and state agencies and provide toys for those children at Christmas. Last year, 1,198 children received toys from the Stocking Full of Love because of generous donations from Catoosa County citizens.

This year, beginning Dec. 1, the Sheriff’s Office will begin collecting names of those children who would benefit from the program. Anyone needing assistance with Christmas should call either 965-7138 or 965-7139 for an appointment. Leave a message if necessary and someone will return your call. Names will only be accepted Dec. 1 through Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.

After that date, donated toys will be sorted and more toys will be purchased with the monies donated to bring the joy of Christmas to hundreds of area children.

Anyone wishing to donate new toys can bring them to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office or contact the Sheriff’s Office to have the toys picked up at your residence or business when convenient. Sheriff Summers stresses that the list of names continues to grow and the program is in great need of toy donations and monetary donations for the 2009 program.

All monetary donations should be by check, payable to the Catoosa County Stocking Full of Love, and may be mailed to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office at P.O. Box 909; Ringgold, GA 30736.