Kymberly Yarnell of Rison, AR. received recognition and a $100 gift card in May from the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation for her outstanding efforts in helping operate The Local Toys for Tots Literacy Program Book Drive this Spring through her role as the Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador serving Cleveland, Dallas, Jefferson, and Lincoln Counties.
Of all the campaigns with Youth Ambassadors that ran a Spring Book Drive, she helped hers achieve first place in the nation by collecting 3,730 books for other youth in need and at-risk youth for ages 0-18.
The USMCR Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador Program spotlights “children helping children” – those that have gone above and beyond in their communities to help those less fortunate than themselves, while also engaging community members on behalf of Toys for Tots. And, Kymberly was a prime example. While the Toys for Tots Coordinator for the area was dealing with a family emergency in another state for several weeks in late February and early March, Kymberly chose to go forth into the communities of Rison, Kingsland, and Fordyce and get the book drive underway. She spoke with business leaders, public officials, and public librarians, handed out flyers, and put up collection boxes. Eventually, the Spring Book Drive spread through the rest of Cleveland, Dallas, Jefferson, and Lincoln Counties as more businesses, all the public libraries, and the Star City Middle School became collection locations.
With all these donations from the community, Kymberly has helped man Toys for Tots booths at various events in our area from Fordyce to Star City to Rison and White Hall where she’s been able to help hand out over 1,000 books to youth this Spring.
The local campaign has also teamed up with the local public libraries providing close to 1,300 books as incentives to youth engaged in the Summer Reading Programs. Additionally, the local campaign has been able to support community service organizations serving area youth such as the CASA Women’s Shelter, CASA Voices for Children, The Community Services Office, and The Call’s Foster Care Mall at the Rison United Methodist Church.
Currently, the local campaign through the Toys for Tots Foster Care Initiative is running a Foster Care Backpack Drive to benefit Foster Care Youth within Cleveland, Dallas, Jefferson, and Lincoln Counties. Backpacks for elementary, middle school, and high school youth may be dropped off at McFarland Eye Care and Cablelynx in Pine Bluff, the Rison United Methodist Church and the public libraries of Fordyce, Star City, White Hall, and Redfield. Donations of stuffed animals, games, and other things will also be accepted. All items should be in a new condition.
Through the Toys for Tots Foster Care Initiative, working in conjunction with The Call, DHS, The Provision Care Closet, and the Jefferson and Dallas County Foster Care Programs, Kymberly is looking forward to helping fill backpacks with an age appropriate book, a stuffed animal, and other necessities which will be provided to youth in foster care as needed with something tangible to take with them as they move, thereby laying tracks of hope for a brighter tomorrow.
If you or your business would like more information on how to participate, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to help us out financially, checks or money orders can be made out to Toys for Tots and sent to TfT Coordinator Matthew Yarnell, PO Box 199, Rison, AR. 71665, or dropped off at the Cleveland County Herald Office or Rison United Methodist Church. You can also donate to the local campaign online at https://pine-bluff-ar.toysfortots.org.
