The Cedartown United Fund is starting up their Christmas Toys for Tots toy drive and will be accepting applications in November.

Gail Maddox, administrator of CUF, said that their goal this year is to provide toys for 400 Cedartown children.

“Our Goal right now is for 400 children. We used to try for 500-600 children, but toy prices have gone up. To get a good toy you have to pay between $15 and $30,” Maddox said.

The organization will be accepting applications in November. Applications are only accepted on Mondays and Fridays (Nov. 5, 12, 16 and 19) between 9 a.m. and noon.

“Applicants must have all of their identification and required documents. If they do not, we can't serve them," Maddox said.

The required documents are: a check stub, if the applicant is working; proof of residency, such as a utility bill; proof of the amount of food stamps if the family is receiving them; and a receipt showing the cost of rent for the family. Toys will only be given to Cedartown children from ages 0-12 years.

“We have to be sure that they are Cedartown residents,” Maddox said. “We are solely supported by donations from Cedartown people, so we are only going to take Cedartown residents.”

All of the toys are provided through donations.

"We will have boxes set up in different Cedartown locations for people to donate toys,” Maddox said. “The boxes might say ‘Floyd’, but the toys collected in Cedartown will be given to Cedartown children.”

The CUF is also accepting monetary donations to purchase the toys. Maddox said that Wal-Mart will be giving a tax exemption for the organization to purchase the toys. Some money has been donated by a few Cedartown businesses and individuals, but more donations will be needed in order to reach the goal of 400 children.

“We could really use monetary donations to help buy toys for these children,” Maddox said. “I really want to do a good job this year because there are so many people in need.”

Maddox said that the CUF is partnering with Hal Gosnell, a coordinator for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program in Rome, to organize the drive. Many local businesses are also helping with the drive.

“HON is a major contributor and a major supporter of our Christmas drive,” said Maddox.

Along with HON, CUF board members and volunteers will be helping with the collection and distribution of the toys. First National Bank, Wal-Mart, Floyd EMT and other businesses and organizations are contributing as well.

The toys will be distributed on Dec. 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. to the children of families that applied and met the requirements.

“People will be coming to the Good Year Civic Center to get the toys,” Maddox said. “It will be like toy shopping.”

The Cedartown United Fund is located at 445 South College St. in Cedartown. The phone number is 770-748-1215; and the organization can be found online at www.cedartownunitedfund.org.