ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Guns ‘N Hoses is taking on a new role, this holiday season. Volunteers are collecting toys for tornado victims in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky.
Megan Myers is a Guns ‘N Hoses volunteer.
“There is no theme here,” said Myers, standing next to a huge pile of toys in the showroom of the Dave Mungenast Honda dealership. “It’s just toys for children. We’ve accepted a lot of gift cards, too.”
The Guns ‘N Hoses tornado toy drive left barely any room for business inside the dealership, located at 5939 South Lindbergh in St. Louis County. The bicycle section, alone, took up two office cubicles.
And that was before Santa Clause arrived.
“Merry Christmas!” said the jolly fat man. “Ho-ho-ho. All my little elves are coming in here.”
Some of Santa’s elves double as Guns ‘N Hoses volunteers.
“Monday, we’re going to load it all up in trucks and head to Edwardsville,” said Myers, “then onto Kentucky and some local areas, as well, where we will deliver toys.”
Tony & Jeanie Diggs made the trip from Richwoods.
Jeanie Diggs said, “We saw this toy drive on 5 On Your Side. I said to my husband, 'this is perfect because I've been looking for a toy drive. It’s the perfect time. We can run up there, Sunday.'”
Tony Diggs added, “It’s important to take care of the kids.”
Myers said some of these toys will be delivered to a church in tornado-ravaged Mayfield, Kentucky.
“We were in touch with SEMA,” said Myers, “and SEMA couldn’t guarantee the kids would have the items before Christmas, but the church assured us they could.”
If you missed the toy drive, Sunday, it may not be too late. Just drop off your new, unwrapped toys or $25 gift cards before the truck leaves, Monday at noon.