PARKERSBURG — Today is the “all day” toy drive for the Mid-Ohio Valley Toys for Tots program.

Toys for Tots volunteers will be collecting toys to give to local children for Christmas from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today along Pike Street in south Parkersburg in front of the Southgate Shopping Center. The Grinch and Minion will be on hand along with the Toys for Tots train, sleigh and miniature truck to highlight the drive, said Cliff Hecker, coordinator for Mid-Ohio Valley Toys for Tots.

Also today Toys for Tots boxes will be picked up at all local retail outlets to consolidate for distribution. Volunteers will be consolidating toys donated, sorting by age groups and beginning to bag for distribution, Hecker said.

Hecker said there will be many additional volunteer groups on hand to assist with sorting and packaging, including: Parkersburg South High School cheerleaders, a Parkersburg South class community project where the entire class will show up after school to assist, volunteers from Rural King, volunteers from Kohl’s, Try Again Homes volunteers, Nathan, Mandy and Brian Stone who have been instrumental in keeping the database running and updated for sign-ups and distribution, John and Angie Burgy who have dedicated many hours during toy drives along with arranging for donations, and the “many community volunteers just wishing to donate to such a worthy cause.”

Toys for Tots will be distributing toys from Grace Gospel Church, Pike Street in Pettyville (south Parkersburg), beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday with 15 families receiving toys every 15 minutes for most of the day.

Thousands of toys will be distributed to thousands of children of the Mid-Ohio Valley on both sides of the river this season, Hecker said.

Hecker said he wanted to thank the many businesses, donors and volunteers who make this program possible. Students helped by conducting toy drives.

Businesses also help the Toys for Tots volunteers during the distribution process by providing food and drinks.

Toys and monetary donations are appreciated during the “all day” drive today, Hecker said, with the monetary donations being spent at local retail outlets to purchase toys for age groups which are lacking in toys based on those in need.

The Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots program of the Mid-Ohio Valley has a motto of “Every Child Deserves A Little Christmas.”