Walgreens, Lakewood Ranch Elks collect over 10,000 toys for children

A week before Christmas, Susan Goodman of the Myakka City Methodist Church came to the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge to pick up toys that had been collected for them to disperse to children in need.

She didn't expect the size of the donation.

Tables were packed with toys that Goodman and her fellow volunteers began loading into bags before filling their vehicles.

"This is overwhelming," Goodman said. "I can't believe it. … It is wonderful.

"We have a lot of low-income people in our area, and a lot of them were hit hard by Hurricane Ian. Several of them still have no roofs."

Faith Frost, who is the exalted ruler of the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge No. 2855, said more than 10,000 toys were collected from 25 Walgreens stores in the region as part of the Mighty Southwest District's Community Gift Drive of the Florida State Elks Association.

It is the fourth year of the effort, and Frost has been involved since the beginning.

"It is just a good thing for the community," she said. "The Elks always are looking for ways to help. This is just overwhelming. I just can't imagine the generosity of our community. "

The drive collected 6,000 toys a year ago.

"We did a lot of running around," Frost said. "Walgreens has a contest, which store can collect the most toys. We were counting toys. Walgreens employees really stepped up."

Darrin Simone was the co-chair of the event with Frost.

"This is wonderful, overwhelming," Simone said.

The Elks distributed the toys to three churches, to their Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies committee, to Hope Family Services, to Manatee County Guardian Ad Litem and to others.