‘Mama’s Toy Box’ drive ends Monday; donations to be given to local kids

There is still time to make sure a local child in need has something to unwrap under the tree on Christmas Day.
Slap Ya Mama and First Baptist Church of Ville Platte’s inaugural “Mama’s Toy Box” toy drive officially wraps up Monday, Dec. 14. New unwrapped toys can still be dropped off in the big wooden toy boxes at any of the 11 locations in Ville Platte.
Those donation sites are: Slap Ya Mama Cajun Products (1679 West Main Street), First Baptist Church of Ville Platte (750 West Main Street), Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce (306 West Main Street), Evangeline Bank & Trust (497 West Main Street), JD Bank (1311 West LaSalle Street), Village De Memoire (1001 N. Reed Street), Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court (200 Court Street, No. 104), Ville Platte City Hall (126 E. Main Street), Fontenot’s Hatchery (5592 Vidrine Road), Lemoine & Associates (423 E. Main Street) and Citizens Bank (841 W. Main Street).
“I have been checking the boxes and it seems like everyone has been donating,” Slap Ya Mama! owner Jennifer Walker said.
All the toys donated will be given to only local children. Making sure to keep the donated toys locally was the driving force for the toy drive.
“In the past we had done Toys for Tots and the toys would go to Lafayette to be distributed. We had no idea if those toys were being donated here locally,” Walker said. “So we thought ‘why not do a drive here?’ Kids need toys here too. We wanted to do something that would help people here in Evangeline Parish.”
For those individuals that are unable to deliver toys at any of the donation sites, you can call Village De Memoire at (337) 363-5992, and someone will gladly pick up your donation. Also, if you know of a family with a child in need, just call and provide their name, address, and the child’s age. That information will be passed along to make sure that those children receive gifts this Christmas.