Separated by only about 5 miles, a less than 10-minute trip if traffic doesn’t hinder progress, are the White County towns of Bald Knob and Judsonia. This Christmas season, as in many past ones, the roughly 5,000 people who call one of these communities home are being called upon by local leaders to provide toys and other gifts for area children who might not otherwise have a Christmas. In this case, it is the men and women in blue who are Santa’s helpers.
Bald Knob
There is no cutoff date for collecting Toys for Tots at the Bald Knob Police Department, one of Santa’s toy substations.
“Oh, no; we keep on collecting right up to Christmas,” TAC Sgt. Shannon Zomant said. “You always have last-minute people who are, unfortunately, not able to take care of this.”
The Police Department partners with area businesses to provide toys for needy children and assistance for their families. All new toys will be accepted.
People may drop off toys at the Police Department, 1337 Arkansas 367, in this city of about 2,500. Clothes will also be accepted.
“Currently, 10- to 12-year-olds are well taken care of thus far, especially boys, but we do not have a lot for 12-year-old girls. We have a really good amount [for the younger kids],” a police dispatcher said.
About 100 children will receive toys, Zomant said.
“[Parents] come up here and get [toys] and wrap [them] for their children. Some little kids do not know where [the presents] come from. They come from [the parents],” she said.
Why does the Police Department undertake this project? “Because we care about our community, about love and protecting, and everyone deserves to be happy. We are bound to protect and serve; that is our blueprint,” she said. “We do not turn anyone down.
“We have a Ministerial Alliance here, and they help us. We have a number of churches and pantries. They are really good; they hand out food. Some are on the outskirts of town.”
Families in the community who need assistance can pick up applications at the Police Department. She said the level of help the families receive depends on what they need.
“We prefer toys,” Zomant said. But anyone who wants to help this effort through cash can mail a donation to the Bald Knob Police Department, P.O. Box 1119, Bald Knob, AR 72010; and designate that it is for the Toys for Tots drive, she said.
Drop boxes for toys are also available at Fred’s Super Dollar, Dollar General, Family Dollar and Harps Food Store in Bald Knob.
The toys will be handed out on specific dates. For those dates or more information, call the Police Department at (501) 724-5193.
Judsonia
For about 15 years, the Judsonia Police Department, under Chief Ray Coffman’s direction, has gathered toys for children in this White County town of about 2,000. Coffman wrote the following letter to alert residents of the project:
“Dear Friends,
“It is that time of year again … Christmas! The Judsonia Police Department is collecting toys and donations to help needy families during the holiday season. As you know, there are many children that would not have a gift this year without the generous support of people like you.
“You can bring your donation to the Judsonia Police Department, 318 Van Buren St. We are asking for new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations. All items will be distributed to children
in the Judsonia area.
“Thank you for helping a child’s dream come true! May God bless you and your family this Christmas.”
Coffman said toys, clothes and whatever items people want to donate are welcome and needed.
“It has been slow so far, but we hope it will pick up. I have a few I have not had in the past,” he said of names submitted. “I am banking on others to help.”
The cutoff date for toy collection is Sunday, he said, so he can get all the gifts delivered and have time to be with his family.
“Sometimes I dress up as Santa, and sometimes I don’t,” Coffman said when asked about the delivery.
Children ages 4 to 11 are the focus of the project, and recipients each year include 10 to 15 area families, Coffman said.
Mayor Ron Schlem said Coffman heads the toy drive up year after year and does a fine job.
“I do not try to take the glory,” Coffman said. “I just want to get kids gifts.”