In coordination with “Small Business Saturday,” the Washington Court House City Service Department truck will be available for “Toys for Tots” donations this weekend.
Main Street Fayette (MSF), a self-funded, nonprofit organization that produces family-friendly entertainment, signature events, community celebrations and business promotions to attract people to downtown, is partnering with the City of Washington Court House and the local Toys for Tots to make giving donations a little easier.
Marine Toys for Tots is a national program and has various campaigns that are broken down by counties in every state. The local Toys for Tots program has been in operation since 2010.
The service department truck will be parked in front of the Fayette County Courthouse on Court Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday to accept donations. Donations should be new, unwrapped and appropriate for all ages.
This weekend was chosen due to Small Business Saturday, which is an annual celebration of small businesses during the start of the holiday shopping season.
According to Washington Court House Economic Developer and Main Street Fayette (MSF) Treasurer Chelsie Baker, this is the fourth year downtown is taking part in Small Business Saturday, which is promoted by American Express.
“This year’s going to be a little different because a lot of the box stores aren’t open on Black Friday and that was always the trade off or the balance of the two — Friday was the big box stores and Saturday was the small businesses,” said Baker.
A majority of MSF partner businesses, located in downtown Washington C.H., will be open on Friday and Saturday this year. Different businesses will have varying hours and deals available. To see specific hours of operation and discounts, check out the MSF Facebook page, “Main Street Fayette.”
COVID-19 guidelines will be followed during the event, according to Baker, including social distancing and mask wearing.
“Each store will have its own capacity limits that they are going to enforce, there is a mask mandate that you can’t enter a store unless there’s a medical reason for not having the mask — every shop downtown is going to have to enforce that, social distancing is going to be enforced,” said Baker. “We want people to support the small businesses, but if you don’t feel good, don’t come out.”
Holiday deals, according to Baker, will most likely be extended throughout the season until the Downtown Live Shop Hop, so those who are ill or do not feel safe coming out this weekend can come out another time.
As previously reported, the Downtown Live Shop Hop “is designed to harness all of the Christmas/Holiday Spirit.”
The event will include holiday deals, stores staying open later than usual, live mannequins, the Supa-Fun Band playing live, and Christmas music played over the downtown speakers. Downtown Live is currently scheduled for Dec. 11 from 5-8 p.m.
The service department truck will be parked throughout the city on other dates through the second week of December for those who are unable to donate this weekend.
Registration to utilize Fayette County Toys for Tots
The deadline to register is Dec. 1 and registration must be done at Second Chance Center Of Hope, 420 W. Oakland Ave. in Washington C.H., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Those with questions regarding registration can contact Mindi Wickensimer, the coordinator of the local Toys for Tots campaign, at 740-600-3343.
In order to register, the child(ren) must reside in the home full-time, and be under age 18 (or 18 if there are younger children in the home, or have a developmental disability that has been approved by the coordinator). If custody has been granted through the courts, documents verifying the placement must be brought during registration.
Other items needed during registration include a photo I.D of the applicant (such as a driver’s license, a state ID or passport), a document verifying address (such as a utility bill, lease, phone bill, piece of mail with the applicant’s name on it from within the last 60 days), proof of income (such as a pay stub, SSI notice, unemployment notice, etc.), birth certificates for all children, and finally Medicaid, Caresource, Molina or Amerigroup Cards if received.
Reach Jennifer Woods at 740-313-0355.
