Marcus McCarty, 4, and brother Logan, 1, the sons of Angela and Eric McCarty, of Cedar Springs, were so happy to drop off toys in the Post Toys for Tots drop box last week.
Have you dropped off your toys yet? Kids in our community need you to help! The official last day to collect is Monday, December 12. Drop off your new, unwrapped gifts in our box at 36 E. Maple Street, Cedar Springs. Put a smile on a child’s face this Christmas!

By Judy Reed

We had some special kids stop in to the Post this week, their arms laden with presents. Alex Vanderhyde, 7, her sister Josephine, 6, and brother Dominic 4, came in to donate gifts to Toys for Tots.
That’s not an uncommon occurrence, but what was truly rare, was that these kids paid for the presents themselves.
Yes, you read that right.
Alex, Josephine and Dominic, children of Nick and Shannon Vanderhyde, save up all year to be able to do this. According to Shannon, the kids take portions of their allowance and other money they get and allot some for savings, some for donating, and some for spending. “And any extra they can put wherever they want,” explained Shannon.
It’s the second year they’ve done it, she said.
The kids then got to go shopping and pick out the presents themselves—about eight of them in all—and dropped them off at the Post.
It’s a lesson in managing money that we could all learn from.
The Post is collecting Toys for Tots through December 15. Please drop off your new, unwrapped toys at 36 E. Maple Street, Cedar Springs, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you need to make arrangements for a different drop off time, please call 696-3655.

Would you like to do something special for families in need this Christmas? You can partner with us to provide toys for needy children in Kent County. The Post is participating in the Toys for Tots program again this holiday season, as a drop off site for toys.
Toys for Tots is a volunteer organization whose goal is to collect new, unwrapped toys for kids 0-16, and distribute them to children who would not otherwise receive a gift during the holiday season. Toys for teens are always needed.
The program runs now through the first two weeks of December. Just bring a new, unwrapped toy to our office at 36 E. Maple Street in Cedar Springs, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can’t make that time, call us to make other arrangements.
Together we can make this Christmas special for many children!