A 15-year-old tradition of giving continues in Gordon County as Gordon Hospital’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff begins collecting toys for the 15th annual “Help Make a Kid Smile” toy drive. This weekend and next weekend, emergency response personnel will be collecting new toys in Calhoun.

“It is an honor to be able to continue this program that has helped so many families in Calhoun and Gordon County,” said Courtney Taylor, director of Gordon Hospital EMS. “This year has been another financially tough year for many families, so we plan to work extra hard again this year to ensure a merry Christmas for as many Calhoun and Gordon County children as possible.”

Last year’s drive collected more than $16,000 worth of new toys, Taylor added.

“Paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and others will be volunteering their time collecting new toys at the entrances of Calhoun’s Wal-Mart Supercenter on Highway 53 over the next two weekends,” Taylor said. “We’ll be asking shoppers to buy an extra toy while they’re shopping and then donate it to the drive.”

Monetary donations will also be accepted, he added.

All toys collected through the annual drive will be given to the Voluntary Action Center (VAC) to distribute to qualifying families in Gordon County.

“We’re asking everyone to open their heart this holiday season and do something special for the children of this community who need our assistance,” he added. “Help us ‘Make a Kid Smile’ this Christmas.”