Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services would like to announce that beginning November 26, 2012 through December 20, 2012 we will be Toys for Tots collection centers.

Please bring your new unwrapped toys to a Cherokee County fire station nearest you. The Atlanta Toys for Tots Campaign supports 17 counties in metro Atlanta, including Cherokee County, and all toys collected stay in these counties.

Although 726,000 toys were collected last year, it didn’t meet all the requests for toys. Please remember this charity when you are out shopping this holiday season and help them fill all the requests this year.

Tim Prather, Cherokee County Fire Chief and a former United States Marine, is excited about helping with the Toys for Tots campaign.

“I was an active duty Marine from 1977 to 1980 and assisted with Toys for Tots, so it is a very special program for me," said Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather. "We also have several former Marines who are now firefighters for Cherokee County. This is a wonderful way to help children who are in need during the holidays."

For the last 65 years, the Marine Toys for Tots Program has delivered a message of hope to less fortunate children through the simple act of providing anew toy.

The Atlanta Toys for Tots Campaign is anticipating another successful season in 2012 and will work with local agencies to bring the joy of Christmas to the children in Atlanta.

Atlanta Toys for Tots is a local affiliate of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and helps needy families throughout the metro-Atlanta area by playing an active role in the development of one of the nation's most valuable natural resources – children.

The organization seeks to unite community members in a common cause each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign to better local communities in the future.

Information regarding monetary donations and volunteer opportunities can be found on their website, www.atlantatoysfortots.com.

For more information about fire station locations or donations locally, contact Cherokee County Fire Headquarters at (678) 493-4000 or visit www.cherokeecountyfire.org.