Displaying some of the thousands of toys and gifts collected during the 2015 annual Mercer County Holiday Toy Drive are Mercer County Park Rangers Fran Lippincott, Jeffrey Pownall and Andrew Ridolfi.
The annual holiday toy drive led by Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the Mercer County Park Commission was a success this year because of an outpouring of support by county residents and local businesses, especially PetSmart in Hamilton Township and Atrium Health and Senior Living, which together donated thousands of toys for less fortunate children.
In addition to the toys, stuffed animals and sporting goods donated by county employees, PetSmart shoppers and Atrium Health. Area residents brought gifts to the dozen or so drop-off locations around the county, including all Mercer County Park Commission facilities, the Mercer County Improvement Authority, the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center and Mercer County Connection.
The donations were presented to Marine Corps Reserve representatives for the Toys for Tots Program at the historic Hunt House in Hopewell Township.