Toy drive set for weekend
Annual event will benefit the CALL
Noalmark Broadcasting’s “Make a Smile Happen” (M.A.S.H) benefit is a long-running toy drive that assists nonprofit organizations around the county.
This year the toy drive will be dedicated to CALL, a foster care organization that helps match Christian families with children in need.
The CALL’s Union County coordinator, Karen Hicks, said the event will offer multiple ways for county residents to donate to the cause.
“We’re super excited. There will be a big tent and a truck for the donations. People can come up to the tent and grab an entire wish list for a child or we have a random list of things that appeared on multiple wish lists. They can also make a cash donation,” Hicks said.
Cash donations for The CALL will be bolstered by Delek, US. The company has agreed to match all donations made to The CALL up to $10,000.
Hicks said that as of Thursday, cash donations had already reached $9,100.
The toys will be collected and distributed to foster children living in or hailing from Union County. The cash donations will help “fill in the gaps” of wish lists that were not fully fulfilled, Hicks said.
The A-State Boys Motorcycle Club will also be participating in the drive on Saturday. Hicks said that 2020 marks the fifth year the MC has helped The CALL during the Christmas season.
On Saturday at 1 p.m., A-State Boys club members will arrive at Wal-Mart as part of the “toy run.”
They will first meet and gather at the Arkansas Welcome Center on Junction City Highway before departing for the toy drive.
“They will all have toys we asked for strapped to their bikes. I think usually anywhere from 35 to 100 bikers show up for these things,” Hicks said.
Noalmark operations manager Caleb Burger said that The CALL is a worthy beneficiary.
“It’s a great opportunity to give back during the holiday season. M.A.S.H. has been going on for many years and this is the first time we’ve worked with [The CALL],” Burger said.
According to Burger, the focus of the benefit is to create a memorable Christmas morning for the children.
“With M.A.S.H we aim to create that magic moment for kids and people coming to donate is how we do it,” Burger said.
Organizers ask that donated toys be unopened and unwrapped.
The M.A.S.H toy drive will be outside the grocery entrance of the El Dorado Wal-Mart from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. today and Saturday.