Dear Editor,

Hello friends in Tama, Toledo, and the surrounding Tama County area. I was in Shopko in late September and saw my first Christmas display. A few days later, I was in WalMart and noticed the Christmas wrapping paper on the Garden Center door. As a motion activated Santa wished me a Merry Christmas (and nearly gave me heart failure), the light bulb finally went on…. the holiday season is fast approaching!

I am the supervisor for the Discovery Program operated by Genesis Development. Our Discovery Program is a day habilitation program that serves persons with disabilities. Genesis Development creates choices and opportunities, and provides support for the folks we serve. One of our goals is to enrich our folks’ lives by integrating them into the public through community involvement and volunteering. Our Discovery Program currently resides in the Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama. We certainly appreciate Pastor Brian Oliver and the church members for welcoming our group to the church. We plan to partner with them and any organizations in the surrounding Tama county area who would benefit from this toy drive.

Our Discovery Program is currently involved in many projects and activities. As the holiday season approaches, we are excited to embark on our Second Annual Toy Drive. Last year in our inaugural effort, the Discovery Program was able to deliver 125 new and gently used toys throughout Tama County to less fortunate families. We also donated a new bicycle to a benefit auction to help raise funds for a family that lost their home in a fire last October. The Discovery Program clients’ hard work and the generosity of many individuals and local businesses who donated toys or gave monetary donations made our first toy drive a success and a wonderful experience. Our goal again this year is to collect as many new toys, gently used toys, and monetary donations as we can. Monetary donations are certainly welcome as it allows our folks the opportunity to personally select the toys, games, and gift cards to distribute to someone in need.

Every child deserves to experience the magic of Christmas and the exhilarating feeling of joy while opening gifts on Christmas morning. If you are able, please help our Discovery Program keep the spirit alive for less fortunate families with children. We will humbly accept any new toy, gently used toy, or monetary donation at the Living Faith United Methodist Church (309 E. I I’ St, Tama) or at the Genesis Development offices (100 1 S. County Rd, Toledo). Our hours at both locations are 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

Please look for our posters that we will again be posting throughout the community in early November. Together we can and will make a difference this holiday season!

Thank you!!

Phillip Harms

Discovery Program Supervisor