For the fifth year in a row, Wright City businesses participated in the Wright City Toy Drive. Organizer Kelly Hill was proud they have continued to expand the drive and hoped that success would continue into upcoming years. 

“When we started this, we started out with just a few businesses,” said Hill, of Shelter Insurance. “I didn’t really know what I was doing, I had never ran a toy drive before so I just sent it to a few business owners I knew and we put barrels in, and then the next year we asked a few more, and every year we just keep reaching out.”

As of the afternoon of Dec. 3, Hill said they expected to donate “at least 24 full barrels of toys,” along with $250 in cash to the food pantry. She was especially pleased and felt they had outperformed totals from previous years. 

That drive now encompasses 20 different businesses and locations in the Wright City area who are all collecting toys and donations for the needy and underprivileged children in the area. 

Participating locations included: Wright City Hardware, Wright City Hall, Diekroeger Park at the Wil Heiliger Activity Building, Railhouse Pub, FMB Bank, First State Community Bank, Edward Jones, Survant Heating and Cooling, The Wright City Fire Protection District, Liberty Christian Academy, Shelter Insurance, American Bank, Legacy Drug Store, Hanny's Market, Gateway Fiber, The Scotts Company Wright City, Universal Galvanizing, Gens Auto and Tire, Canna Corner and the Innsbrook Dollar General Market. 

“Every year we’d love to see it get a little bigger,” said Hill. 

New additions this year included Universal Galvanizing and Scotts Company in Wright City along with the Dollar General Market in Innsbrook. Hill was pleased with their performances as new participants as well noting as of Monday morning Dec. 2 both DG Market and Universal Galvanizing had filled their first barrel and requested a second. 

They also held a competition on Facebook to see which participants could decorate the best barrel to receive their donations. Those vote tallies were counted on Dec. 2 and out of the 141 votes received, Wright City Hardware took first place with 66 of them. 

FMB Bank took second with 25 votes. 

“We’d like to remind everyone that these businesses stepped up to support their community and we hope the residents do the same by supporting local businesses during the holidays and all year through,” said Hill. 

Collections were delivered first to the Wright City Food Pantry and will be delivered to other organizations in need, like Turning Point, as they are available. 

Hill pointed out that since the drive is run through the Wright City Food Pantry it can also act as a tax write-off for donors and participants. 

Regardless of the benefits for participants, Hill lauded the commitment and generosity of the community. 

“This is the most giving community I’ve ever met. I cannot believe how well they take care of one another here, so it just makes me proud to have a business here,” said Hill. 

She also noted that if they continue to receive donations they will ensure they reach their destination at the food pantry or one of the other organizations in need. She specifically asked if there were any late, or last minute donations that were in cash. 

Cash donations allow them to purchase more toys for older kids who are not always considered in toy drives and whose presents tend to be more expensive with items like electronics. 

“If somebody feels a tug on their heart, … we would always appreciate a financial donation to buy some of the electronics and things that sometimes other people don’t donate because they’re expensive,” said Hill.