T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Lt. Brian McFarland of the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in St. Clairsville invited the public to drop off new, unwrapped toys as the post participates in the Toys for Tots holiday collection drive for the first time.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The local post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is participating in the Toys for Tots holiday collection for the first time.

Lt. Brian McFarland said this is another element of the post’s community outreach.

“This is the first year this post has done that program, so we’re kind of in the new stages. We don’t know what we’ll turn out,” he said. “We discussed it with our district staff, and we try to be more involved with the community.”

Anyone wishing to help is welcome to drop off new, unwrapped toys at the post for the collection that is underway now and continues through December.

“Once they’re collected, they’ll go back to a representative for the United States Marine Corps Reserve,” he said. “They will distribute them to all the children.”

He added that troopers at the post have no set goal in mind for how much they aim to collect with their first donation effort.

“We’ll take as many as possible,” he said. “We’re excited about it, and hopefully it turns out to be a new turnout and something we can do every year for here on out. The objectives of the foundation are to help less fortunate children.”

McFarland added that the post also works with Children Services to help provide meals for underprivileged families on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

“We’ll go to local businesses,” he said.

Robert Stratton, retired Marine and a coordinator for Toys for Tots, said the toys are distributed nationwide.

“They go anywhere. Anyone that applies for a toy gets one. It’s good of the state highway patrol to take them into their station and collect toys,” he said. “There’s a lot of need this year. Last year we did 7,000 kids.”

Stratton said Toys for Tots accepts toys in any price range.

“We do from (age) zero to 15, and they’re all given out free,” he said. “Starting Nov. 15, we’ll be giving toys out here at this address: 6034 Dana Road Southwest, Sherrodsville, Ohio.”

He said the distribution will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and people can pick up or donate toys through Christmas. Call 330-904-8051 for more information. The website is toysfortots.org.

The patrol post is located at 51400 National Road East, St. Clairsville. The phone number is 740-695-0915.