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This Friday, November 26, area residents can help spread some holiday cheer by donating new, unwrapped toys to the Toys for Tots program at the Kitty Hawk Walmart anytime between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“This is our Black Friday collection,” explained local Toys for Tots campaign coordinator Anthony Hoggard.

Hoggard said this is likely the last big push for toy donations before Christmas.

Founded in 1947 in Los Angeles, California by United States Marine Corps Reservist Major Bill Hendricks to distribute toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas, the program has spread throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

Hoggard said his first involvement with Toys for Tots was while with EMS in Seattle. After moving here to work with Dare County EMS, he became a volunteer in this area.

“I slowly worked my way into it and eventually was asked to take it over three or four years ago,” Hoggard explained. “I guess between Seattle and here I have been involved with the program for about 12 years.”

In recent years, Toys for Tots here on the Outer Banks focused on helping Dare County residents. This year the program has expanded to include Dare and Currituck counties.

“Currituck was added to the local program this year,” explained Hoggard. “So now we are running two counties.”

A larger territory also means an increased number of requests for toys from parents who cannot afford to buy Christmas gifts for their children.

Hoggard estimated that last year the nonprofit organization provided toys to between 350 and 400 Dare County children. This year the number could run between 700 and 800 kids.

With about 90 collection boxes at various merchant locations throughout the community, volunteers have transformed the former Paparazzi OBX location at 3848 North Croatan Highway in Kitty Hawk to serve as this year’s distribution center.

Because there is no fixed location, the distribution center site changes from year to year.

“Unfortunately we have to find a new place every year,” Hoggard explained.

Hoggard then said that people can still apply for toys until December 19. Requests can be submitted through the county Social Services officer or on the website https://kill-devil-hills-nc.toysfortots.org/.

The Toys for Tots goal is to ensure no child is left out on Christmas morning. Toys are collected or bought for newborns to 16 years of age.

“We could not do this without the support of the community,” said Hoggard, “and we look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming Black Friday event.”

Donation boxes throughout the community in Dare and Currituck counties are expected to be in place through December 11. Anyone able and looking to donate, should bring a new unwrapped toy to any of the locations listed and place them in the donation box.

AVON
Hatteras Island Board Sports, 41046 NC 12
Kitty Hawk Kites, 39432 NC 12

BUXTON
Hatteras Island Toys, 46928 NC Hwy 12

CURRITUCK COUNTY
Ace Hardware, 6407 Caratoke Hwy
Area Storage, 9050 Caratoke Hwy (Point Harbor)
Coastal Roofing and Siding, 8181 Caratoke Hwy (Powells Point)
Crawford Fire Dept., 121 Shawboro Rd (Moyock)
Diggers Dungeon, 5650 Caratoke Hwy
Lower Currituck Fire Dept., all three stations
Navy Federal Credit Union, 105 Currituck Commercial Dr
Sound Feet Shoes, 111 Fox Knoll Dr

DUCK
Kitty Hawk Kites, 1226 Duck Rd

FRISCO
Dare Co. EMS Station 3, 50346 NC Hwy 12

HATTERAS
Kitty Hawk Kites, 58848 Hatteras Landing

KILL DEVIL HILLS:
Belk, 1732 N. Croatan Hwy
Christmas Lights on Holly St. 504 W. Holly St
Coldwell Banker, 2503 N. Croatan Hwy
CVS, 1101 S. Croatan Hwy
Dare County EMS Station 1, 1632 N. Croatan Hwy
Front Porch Café, 2200 N. Croatan Hwy
Jack Browns, 800 S. Virginia Dare Trail
Kill Devil Hills Fire Dept., 1634 N. Croatan Hwy
Kill Devil Hills Police Dept., 102 Town Hall Dr.
Lowe’s, 1500 N. Croatan Hwy
Max’s Pizza, 1712 N. Croatan Hwy
Run Hill Apartments, 1006 Beachgrass Way
Sugar Kingdom, 1160 S. Croatan Hwy
Walgreens, 1200 S. Croatan Hwy

KITTY HAWK
Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, 4900 N. Croatan Hwy
CVS, 5547 N. Croatan Hwy
Kitty Hawk Fire Dept., 859 West Kitty Hawk Rd
Kitty Hawk Police Dept., 722 W. Kitty Hawk Rd
OBX Chevy, 6166 N. Croatan Hwy
Seascape Golf Course, 300 W. Eckner St.
Seaside Vacations, 3620 N. Croatan Hwy
Sound Feet Shoes, 3840 N. Croatan Hwy
Starr Boutique, 3701 N. Croatan Hwy
TW’S Bait And Tackle, 3864 N. Croatan Hwy
Walgreens, 5312 N. Virginia Dare Trail
Walmart, 5400 N. Croatan Hwy

MANTEO
Blue Water, Grill 2000 Sailfish Dr
CVS, 1115 South US 64
Dare Co. EMS Station 2, 515 Bowsertown Rd
Front Porch Café, 300 US 64
Kitty Hawk Kites, 307 Queen Elizabeth Ave
NC Aquarium, 374 Airport Rd

NAGS HEAD
Blue Moon Grill, 4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail
Fraternal Order Of Eagles, 2706 S. Croatan Hwy
Front Porch Café, 2515 S. Croatan Hwy
Kitty Hawk Kites, 3933 S. Croatan Hwy
Nags Head Fire Dept., 5314 S. Croatan Hwy
Nags Head Police Dept., 5401 S. Croatan Hwy
OBX Sports Club, 2423 S. Croatan Hwy
Outer Banks Toy, 4711 S. Croatan Hwy
Rock-A-Bye Baby, 4711 S. Croatan Hwy
Sugar Kingdom, 6901 S. Croatan Hwy
TJ Maxx, 2210 S. Croatan Hwy
Tuesday Morning, 5050 S. Croatan Hwy
TW’s Bait and Tackle, 2230 S. Croatan Hwy
West Marine, 5000 S. Croatan Hwy

RODANTHE
Dare Co. EMS Station 6, 24297 Atlantic Dr.
Kitty Hawk Kites, 24798 NC 12

SOUTHERN SHORES
Dare Co. EMS Station 4, 28 E. Dogwood Trail
Duck Woods Country Club, 50 S. Dogwood Trail
Southern Shores Fire Dept., 1 Ocean Blvd (Suite 105)
Southern Shores Police Dept., 5375 N. Virginia Dare Trail
State Farm, 6475 N. Croatan Hwy

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