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The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive ends Friday, but there's still time for area residents to make the holidays merrier for more than 2,000 underprivileged children in Chautauqua County.

The Resource Center, which coordinates the Toys for Tots drive each year, has announced Friday is the last day for people to drop off their donations of new, unwrapped toys at local collection spots. Residents are encouraged to drop off their toy donations at any of the businesses listed below.

Gifts are sought for children ages 18 and younger. Because TRC typically does not receive enough toys to meet the need for older children, the agency is accepting monetary donations to buy presents for those children.

TRC will be sorting and bagging the toys this weekend, and anyone interested in helping with that effort is encouraged to do so. Toys will be sorted Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Then from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, volunteers will be bagging toys volunteers will then be taking a sheet with the ages and genders of children in a household and select toys they think are appropriate for each child and putting those toys in a bag.

It's fun, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you played a part in making the holidays brighter for underprivileged children in our community.

People will pick up toys from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday; and from 7:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday. Volunteers are welcome to help distribute toys any of those days.

For information about assisting the Toys for Tots drive, phone 661-1433 or 661-1042.

Each year, there are families that miss the deadline to apply for toys, but The Resource Center still manages to assist them. People who missed the application deadline can stop by "Toy Central" (210 Cherry St. in Jamestown) Monday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and TRC will try to meet their need.

Toy dropoff locations are: ADECCO (Jamestown), Allpro Parking (Jamestown), Allied Healthcare, Alcoa Closure Systems (Randolph), Artone Manufacturing, BOCES (Ashville), Big Lots (Dunkirk, Jamestown), The Book Nook, Curves (Falconer, Jamestown), Dollar General (Dunkirk, Fredonia, Jamestown, Lakewood, Mayville, Randolph, Silver Creek), Dom Polski Club, Edward Jones Investments, Elks Lodge 263, Jamestown, Family Dollar (Jamestown locations), Farm Fresh Foods, Five Star Bank (Lakewood), Friendly's (Jamestown), Guys & Dolls Dance Studio, Honest John's Restaurant, JC Penney Salon (Lakewood), Jamestown Area Medical Associates, Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, Jefferson Middle School, Lake Shore Savings Bank (Jamestown), Lincoln Elementary School, Karma Salon, Kmart (West Ellicott), Lucy-Desi Museum, M&T Bank (Jamestown locations), Moose Lodge 89, Dunkirk, Petri Baking Products, Piazza's Carpet One, Quick Solutions (Jamestown), Randolph Auto, Red Lobster (Lakewood), Regal Service Company, The Resource Center, Robo Wash (Falconer, Jamestown), Sam's Club (West Ellicott), Starflight, Tim Hortons (Jamestown, Lakewood), Time Warner Cable (Jamestown), Toys R Us (Blasdell), Tractor Supply (Lakewood), VFW Post 1419, Hamburg, VFW Post 6764, Westfield, WCA Hospital Maternity Ward, WKZA Kiss 106.9 FM, Walmart (Lakewood), Warren's Barbers, Wegmans (West Ellicott), Woodlawn Credit Union (Blasdell, Fredonia, Lakewood) and YMCA (Jamestown).