The City of DeSoto has collected hundreds of toys for kids and warm clothes for senior citizens. The items will be distributed to non-profit groups and senior care facilities before Christmas.
DeSoto City Council Member Dr. Dinah Marks started the program with the goal of gathering enough items to fill up the bed of a pickup truck.
"It started out with me wanting to do something for our senior citizens - those that are in adult day cares, those that are in senior living facilities," Dr. Marks said.
South Toyota in Dallas donated the use of one of their Toyota Tundra pickup trucks, so the program became Fil-a-Tundra.
"I first started with trying to fill one Tundra...now it's four Tundras that we are actually filling," she said.
DeSoto Fire stations served as drop-off points during the collection drive.
"Historically, the fire department has been the drop off site for the city toy drive effort. We've been using the fire stations and the administration office as a toy drop-off for years," said DeSoto Fire Chief Jerry Duffield. "We're here to serve any way we can."
He was impressed by the community's response.
"If we were to get a third of this in a good year we would have a great year. It's just been amazing," he said.
Dr. Marks was also grateful for the outpouring of support.
"I am just overwhelmed," she said. "I only asked for one truck...but the generosity was just overwhelming."
Related
