Christmas came early for hundreds of children throughout Claiborne County, as Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department Captain Larry Martin spent the week before the holiday passing out toys received primarily through the visitation program at the Claiborne County Jail.
The fifth annual toy drive dubbed ‘Operation Christmas’ went off without a hitch, as Martin traveled throughout Claiborne County with his wife and two kids, passing out toys to children in need. In addition to participating in the annual Clairfield Christmas parade, where every child in attendance received a toy, Martin traveled to individual houses throughout the county to ensure the toys got in the hands of children who needed them.
“We do this for the kids who are less fortunate, to ensure they have the best possible Christmas,” said Martin.
Approximately 1,000 toys were passed out over the course of several days — with over 90 percent of the toys coming from ‘visitation donations’ where Martin collects the toys through the visitation program at the Claiborne County Justice Center. The remaining toys were donated by local businesses Enix Jewelry and Rockwood Auction. All Stars Wholesale housed the toys throughout the year for the CCSO.
The State of Tennessee mandates allow for inmates to have one weekly hour long visit but through the Operation Christmas program inmates can have up to four visits per week. The way the Operation Christmas toy drive works is friends and family members of inmates can bring a toy to the justice center on any weekday except for Thursday – court day – and receive an extra visit for the week. The length of the visit depends on the price of the toy donated, the more expensive the toy, the longer the extra visit will last. Toys valued at $5 garner a 15 minute visit, toys valued between $10 and $14.99 allow for a thirty minute visit, toys valued at $15 to $19.99 get a 45 minute visit and toys valued at $20 or more allow for an hour long visit.
Sheriff David Ray calls Martin’s program ‘wonderful’ citing how it helps children who may otherwise do without for the holiday.
“I think it is wonderful that we are able to do this,” said Ray. “There are a lot of kids that do without at Christmas time and Larry’s program helps those children.”
For more information on the program or to make a donation, contact the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department at 423-626-3385.
Reach Reina P. Cunningham at 606-302-9091 or on Twitter @ReinaDailyNews
