After coordinating Suffolk’s Toys for Tots efforts for about a dozen years, John Woleben is once again at the helm, working with the Suffolk News-Herald Cheer Fund as well as the Salvation Army to ensure all children in Suffolk are able to find a gift under the tree on Christmas morning.

“We’re doing the best we can with what we have,” Woleben said. “We’ve got most of the boxes out to be picking up toys. We won’t really know until the second week of December, when we pick them up, exactly how well we do.”

The Cheer Fund money is turned over to Toys for Tots to purchase toys in bulk. Toy donations made at boxes throughout town provide even more toys for families to choose from.

“We took care of between 4,000 and 5,000 children last year, and I expect the same number or more this year,” Woleben said.

The Hampton Roads Radio Control Club kicked off the collection efforts well with its annual fun fly early in November, raising $3,217 and collecting five boxes of toys, Woleben noted.

“That’s a great start,” he said.

In addition, the Suffolk Police Department is planning to “stuff the car” on Dec. 6 at both Suffolk Walmart locations, and the Suffolk Golf Course is having a Toys for Tots tournament. Suffolk’s auto dealers, as always, are also gearing up to collect toys in their annual friendly competition.

Families in need who have pre-applied for assistance will be able to choose toys for their children at the Salvation Army, 400 Bank St., during the third week in December. Contact the Salvation Army at 539-5201 for more information about how to apply for assistance.

The Cheer Fund’s goal this year is $35,000.

To donate to the Cheer Fund, send a check to P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 or bring it to our office, 130 S. Saratoga St., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We will list your donation in the newspaper, but it can be marked “anonymous” if you like. Donations may be made in honor of or in memory of someone. If you bring the check to our office, we’ll even take your picture as you hand it to one of our staff.

For more information on the Cheer Fund, call 934-9616.