Chamber seeks drop-off locations for Christmas underwear drive

Members of the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce are making preparations for their annual Tushies & Toes Drive and are looking for businesses and organizations who’d like to serve as donation drop-off points for this year’s event.

For the third year in a row, area businesses will be collecting donations of new underwear and socks for students of the Central R-3 School District.

“Last year we collected 205 packages of underwear and socks — exceeding our goal of 200 — as well as monetary donations to help with the purchase of shoes for use at Central Schools,” said Executive Director Tammi Coleman. “They are given to students in need, students who come to school without these necessities and are used for in-school accidents.  This year we’d like to continue to increase our numbers so we’re setting a goal of 250 packages of socks and underwear collected.”

The Tushies & Toes Drive begins Nov. 1 and will run through Dec. 20. Anyone who wants to make a donation simply drops off the underwear and/or socks at the chamber office or any participating business or organization during that period.

The chamber provides participating host sites with flyers and actively promotes each location on its website and social media sites, in all press releases and during radio interviews pertaining to the event.

“Participating in a human interest project such as this, not only puts a positive spotlight on your business or organization in the eyes of your community, but it also puts a positive feeling in your heart,” Coleman said. “There’s no bigger benefit than that!”

The chamber encourages participating businesses and organizations to get creative during the drive and to consider offering prizes or other incentives or to create a contest to see who can collect the most donations.

Volunteer hosts are asked to register before Oct. 31 to be listed as a drop-off location. Registration forms are available online at phlcoc.net or by calling the chamber office at 573-431-1051.

Members of the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce are making preparations for their annual Tushies & Toes Drive. For the third year in a row, area businesses will be collecting donations of new underwear and socks for students of the Central R-3 School District.

Amy Patterson is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3616 or apatterson@dailyjournalonline.com.