As Bogalusa Toy Fund begins its 25th season of giving to the needy children of Bogalusa, the following timeline is announced:

Applications are currently placed at The Daily News, the welfare office, Country Super Store, Main Street Grocery and Travis Supermarket.

A strict deadline for return is Wednesday, Dec. 2, with no exceptions except for emergency cases, such as a home burning and similar circumstances.

Toy delivery preparation will begin Monday, Dec. 7, with delivery completed the week of Dec. 14. Toys are selected for each child in the family, bagged and sorted into sections of town for delivery.

Drop-off boxes are currently located at local banks, Dollar Generals, Dr. Theriault and Check into Cash, with others being placed.

Updates will be furnished. The boxes are to collect new unwrapped gifts for children six months to 12 years. Gifts are requested by Monday, Dec. 7.

For monetary donations, accounts are established at Zellco and Capitol One in the name of “Bogalusa Toy Fund.”

Bogalusa Toy Fund is a certified tax-deductible 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation. Donations payable to “Bogalusa Toy Fund” may be mailed to P. O. Box 515, Bogalusa, LA 70429. Each $30 donated will cover one child.

“Adopt A Family” is an opportunity for an individual, family or organization to have a family selected meeting the makeup of a requested family, such as ages, number of children, etc.

When a family is adopted, the donor is required to furnish toys for the family’s Christmas, but may also give other things, such as food or clothing. To “Adopt a Family,” call Martha Mitchell 985-732-7017 and she will match the family to your needs.

An average number of children included in each distribution would be about 350, making up an average of about 150 homes for deliveries.

Bogalusa Toy Fund is a volunteer group that serves as a go-between for those wanting to ensure a happy Christmas for local needy children and the delivery of these gifts to the families. The gifts are delivered to the parents in order for the family to have Christmas in their own traditional way.

Volunteers will be needed beginning Monday, Dec. 7 in order to prepare for delivery and the actual delivery to each home.

For further information, please contact Oneita Graham at 985-732-7434, Ray Ann or Sharon Wheat at 985-732-9492 or Martha Mitchell at 985-732-7017.