The Dillon Herald, the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dillon County United Way held their annual toy drive giveaway on Saturday. December 17.
A total of 61 families and 171 children were served by The Dillon Herald, the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dillon County United Way.
Our partner, Hamer Church of God, served eight additional families and 18 children.
Combined 69 families and 189 children were served.
The days leading up to the drive were extremely busy. First, there was Breakfast With Santa sponsored by the City Of Dillon and the Dillon Kiwanis Club early in the month.
Then, there were many nights filled with shopping at local stores.
On Thursday, Dec. 15, Johnnie Luehrs, Christian Britt, and Paige Smith all volunteered to help sort and pack toys, a tremendous task.
On Friday, Dec. 16, Brandon Allen, formerly of Dillon County, and Blaine D. Lahrs came with a big delivery of bikes and scooters that they had collected throughout the year. Brandon Allen has been donating these bikes and scooters for three years now, and it has made a huge impact on many children throughout the county and brought smiles to many faces not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.
Volunteers from the City of Dillon Police Department helped with the unloading of the bikes and scooters.
Later that day on Friday, Dec. 16, Josh Watts and Ryan Gould of Dillon Tire Superstore took time away from their business to come pump up the tires on the bikes.
On Saturday, Dec. 17, it was giveaway time. Sheriff Douglas Pernell and his crew along with Belva Britt, Johnnie Luehrs, and Dillon Herald staff gave out the toys, bikes, and scooters in a drive-thru pick up.
This could not be done without the generosity of the public who donate toys and money to the drive. Several local businesses allowed us to place boxes at their locations to collect toys.
All gifts purchased with donated money were bought at Dillon County businesses. We would be remiss not thank the staffs of each of the stores that we shopped at and the other customers who had to wait in line because checking out was a big task.
The food drive ends on Friday, December 23 and food collected to this point is already in the process of being delivered. Food donations can be dropped off at The Dillon Herald office at 505 Highway 301 North, Dillon.

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Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald
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