By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

Fayette County's scouting community is now collecting new toys for distribution to needy children through the county's Department of Family and Children Services.

Initiated last year by Scout leader and district commissioner Mike Jerrell, Boy Scouts, Cubs, Explorers and Venturers collected approximately 850 new toys and gifts for DFCS clients. “Scouting for Toys” was born in “response to a need in the community,” Jerrell said.

“This was the first time DFCS has not gone wanting,” he added. “We were successful beyond our imaginations.”

Jerrell challenged the mindset that there are no needy people in Fayette County, explaining to scout leaders last week that the idea is “far from realty.”

“There are homeless people in Fayette County; there are women and children living in shelters, we have the boys home,” he said. “DFCS is stretched pretty thin, in what they do. We'd like to pursue this year-round,” Jerrell said.

While the project is focusing on toys, this year the Scouts hope to include gifts for the elderly as well.

“You can also donate gift wrap,” Jerrell reminded the scout leaders.

Recalling the efforts of last year's Scouts, leaders were reminded of a 16-year-old girl involved in a Scout Venturing unit who used her Christmas gift money to purchase two Nintendo sets, a troop that collected $350 to buy new clothes for the needy and another group that dispensed with their annual gift exchange to use the money to buy toys.

Items collected will be stored at Cycle Specialty on Ga. Highway 85 and Kenwood Road in Fayetteville until ready for delivery to DFCS. Several Scout units also are planning to help sort and wrap the gifts.

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