With the Christmas season right around the corner, the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office is preparing for its annual “Stocking Full of Love” toy drive, which it will be sponsoring for the 25th consecutive year.

Each year, the Sheriff’s Office accumulates names of needy children from Catoosa County schools, civic organizations and state agencies to provide Christmas toys for them.

Last year 1,445 children received toys from the Stocking Full of Love program as a result of the generous donations by Catoosa County Citizens.

Beginning Dec. 1, the Sheriff’s Office will begin collecting names of those children, ages 12 months to 14 years, who would benefit from the program.

Anyone needing assistance with Christmas can call either 706-965-7138 or 706-965-7139 for an appointment. Names will only be accepted Dec. 1-13 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After Dec. 13, all donated toys will be sorted and more toys will purchased with the money donated to bring the joy of Christmas to hundreds of children in the community.

Anyone wishing to donate new toys can bring them to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office or contact the Sheriff’s Office to have the toys picked up from a residence or business.

Sheriff Phil Summers said the list of children continues to grow and that the program is in need of toy and monetary donations for the 2011 drive.

All monetary donations should be by check, payable to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office Stocking Full of Love, and mailed to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Box 909, Ringgold, Ga. 30736.