SUMMERDALE, Ala. — There is no greater joy for a child than to wake up on Christmas morning and find toys under the tree.

But for more children than we want to think about, that is not the case. In fact, it is quite the opposite and they wake up to nothing, not even a tree.

So, to remedy that, Baldwin EMC and television station WKRG are teaming up this Christmas season for “The Great Toy Drive”, an opportunity for the community to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter.

This is the first year for EMC to participate in the drive that began on Monday, November 29 and will end on Thursday, December 16, said Karen Moore of Baldwin EMC.

All three locations (Bay Minette, Summerdale, Orange Beach) of EMC will be collection points for a new unwrapped toy as well as Trax Tire locations in Daphne, Spanish Fort, Theodore, Mobile, Saraland and Gulf Shores and WKRG station in Mobile. The Porch Creek Indians are also sponsoring the event.

“We have 195 employees in all three offices and we have always participated in the Angel Tree program and in addition to that , WKRG asked if we wanted to be a drop-off point and we jumped at the chance. This is such a great thing and we are so excited to be participating in it. Our employees are so involved in community projects and really got on board with this,” Moore said.

Toys for all age groups will be accepted and once they are all collected, Moore said they will be taken to WKRG in Mobile when they will begin distributing them on Monday, December 20.

“The tv station will take them to the Salvation Army in Mobile where different relief agencies like Catholic Social Services, Ecumenical Ministries and the Christian Service Center can come and shop for their families. It’s really a neat thing they are doing,” Moore said.

Businesses, schools or individuals can participate in this drive and monetary donations will be accepted as well.

For more information, contact Baldwin EMC at (251) 989-6247 visit the WKRGwebsite: wkrg.