THE 3RD ANNUAL TOY 4 TOTS STARTS DEC 7 2011 DROP OFF IN MONTGOMERY, AL GOODFELLOW (7-TILL CLOSE MON-SUN) MAKE AIRPORT BARBER SHOP (155 W. SOUTH BLVD TUE-SAT 9AM-TILL 9PM CALLIN ALL HELP US MAKE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE KIDS LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN TOGETHER NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE DONATION ITS THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS
Toy Drive a Way to Give Back to the Community
Montgomery Advertiser - Montgomery, Ala. 
Author: Matt Okarmus
Date: Dec 25, 2010
Section: NEWS


As families packed the stores looking for last-minute Christmas gifts, a Montgomery concert promoter took that same concept with donations.

Patrick "P" Monfiston, the man behind P Entertainment and Promotions, sponsored a "Toys for Tots" donation drive Christmas Eve at the Airport Barber & Style Shop on East South Boulevard.

Monfiston partnered with Platinum CEO (Community Empowerment Organization) to run the event after both had similar events last year.

Kimberly Womack, an organizer with Platinum CEO, said the organization gave toys to a few Montgomery families last year.

Monfiston held his event last year at Hometown Record Shop. This year the two organizations decided to merge their ideas in order to reach a larger group.

"He said his goal was to reach about 200 kids and I told him if we partnered together, we should be able to reach 500," Womack said.

Monfiston said holding the event the day before Christmas made it more meaningful.

"The smile on the kids' faces, which is a blessing in itself, can last for days," Monfiston said. "We want people that don't have anything tomorrow to have something to happen to them today."

Local entertainers and radio personalities, such as 97.9's Frank White, purchased the toys to be donated.

Monfiston said having the entertainers obtain the donations made for a memorable experience.

"(We) want to teach people in entertainment this: people come to support us, now it's time to give back," Monfiston said.

The barbershop was not only the location for the event, but was one of the drop-off points within the community.

Jaworski Wilson, who owns the establishment, and his niece, Deirdre, said the toy drive was all about community.

"It's an event we feel obligated to hold due to being able to give back," Wilson said. "We look forward to holding it annually and holding it on a larger scale next year."

The toys were wrapped, a component Monfiston said was essential for Christmas, and divided into groups for girls and boys. When it came to those who would show up to obtain the donations, Monfiston hoped for some courtesy.

"We asked that the toy drive be for the needy, not the greedy," Monfiston said.

Womack said she was grateful to have seen a lot of support for the toy drive.

"People here a lot of negativity about the community, but don't get to necessarily see the good work that goes on behind the scenes," Womack said.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.