?KANNAPOLIS— A Kannapolis church will host a community event today to benefit local nonprofit Jeffrey’s Toy Closet.
The event is from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Mount Mitchell Methodist Church, 6001 Old Salisbury Concord Road.
Jeffrey’s Toy Closet is a foundation that gives toys to needy and sick children throughout North Carolina and beyond. The organization was founded by Jeffrey Stanton, a Legend Car race car driver when at 8 he discovered some children in his autism class weren’t getting toys for Christmas.
The event is free to the public, however there is a cost for food vendors. There is also a silent auction and yard sale items will be on sale at the event.
Attendees can take a ride on a hot air balloon $5 for children and $10 for adults. Anyone who brings a new toy will receive a free raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. Some of the prizes include tickets to Lazy 5 Ranch and NASCAR memorabilia.
Stanton, 15, has gotten requests from people whose children aren’t eligible to receive items from other local holiday programs. He’s working to provide gifts to 3,000 children.
Stanton’s mother, Debbie, said this year is a record number.
In addition to the people who call the Stanton home for help, Jeffrey also makes sure children who’ve signed up for Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree also get a toy from his foundation.
His it began years ago, the foundation has helped get toys to more than 45,000 children.
The following are toy drop box locations:
• NAPA Rockwell Auto and Tractor Parts Inc., 8482 U.S. 52,Rockwell, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday.
• The Joie of Seating, 4537 Orphanage Road, Concord, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
• Manpower to Horsepower, 5240 U.S. 601, Salisbury, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.