Community donations to seventh annual Toy Share exceed expectations

More than 3,300 toys and $1,125 were donated to the seventh annual Bank Independent and WAFF48 Toy Share toy drive over the holidays, surpassing 2016 totals and helping hundreds of families across seven counties, including Franklin.

“This program grows every year thanks to our generous communities,” said Macke Mauldin, Bank Independent president. “Every year our community partners distribute toys to more and more local children.

Since the first Toy Share drive in 2011, partner organizations have distributed 21,793 toys and more than $6,000 to local families, Mauldin said. Toys were collected in all Bank sales offices, in several Dollar General locations and through a drive at Florence’s Flobama Downtown restaurant and music venue.

Toys were presented to partnering charitable organizations for distribution to local families prior to Christmas Day.

Recipient organizations included the Department of Human Resources of Franklin County, as well as the Angel Tree Program in partnership with Lexington High School, Committee on Church Cooperation of Morgan County, William Porter Foundation in the Shoals, Safeplace of the Shoals, Cornerstone Church in Lawrence County, North Alabama Christian Children’s Home, Department of Human Resources of Lawrence County, Department of Human Resources of Limestone County, Christmas Charities Year Round in Huntsville and the Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department.

“We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped us make this Christmas brighter for our neighbors and friends,” Mauldin said.

Toy Share was the last of four annual Share drives hosted by Bank Independent in 2017 to give back to the community as part of Bank Independent’s Helping Hands initiative.

The first Share drive of 2018, Shelter Share, will run throughout the month of February.  Shelter Share offers all Bank Independent locations as convenient donation points for pet food and supplies to be donated to area animal shelters.