Gordon Hospital’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department helped make a lot of kids smile this Christmas thanks to the 16th annual toy drive.

According to EMS Director Courtney Taylor, this year’s goal to raise $16,000 in toys and cash was actually exceeded by over $2,000 for the Gordon EMS Help Make a Kid Smile Toy Drive.

“We are so thankful for all of the EMS employees who worked exceptionally hard this year, but we certainly could not have exceeded our goal without everyone who donated,” Taylor said. “Because of the generosity of the people in our community, a lot more Calhoun and Gordon County kids were smiling on Christmas morning. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The drive this year netted a total of $11,814.86 in monetary donations and $6,980 in toys for a total of $18,794.86, Taylor explained. “We were getting a bit concerned about this year’s drive after we discovered that due to a city ordinance enforcement we would not be able to solicit funds at the Curtis Parkway/Dews Pond intersection,” Taylor says. “But we shouldn’t have worried. God knew what we needed and our friends and neighbors answered the call.”