Front Page
Local celebrities help Toys For Tots
By Tom Russell, photojournalist
Dec 14, 2004

Whitewright Mayor, Bill Goodson

Thursday night the Cotton Patch Restaurant in Denison hosted the 5th annual celebrity Toys For Tots fund-raiser.

 

Each year elected officials, local media, and other come together to wait tables to raise money for Toys For Tots.  All tips collected by the guest waiters and waitresses will help buy more toys for the children in Grayson County.

 

In addition to the tips collected by the celebrities, all the regular staff donate their tips to the children. Plus, The Cotton Patch Restaurant also donated ten percent of all sales for the night to Toys For Tots.

 

Some of this year’s celebrities included County Commissioner Gene Short, Republican Chairman Grayson County Clyde Siebman, Dana Zoga and Matt Brown KXII TV, State Representative Larry Phillips, Grayson Chief Deputy Ron Brown, County Judge Tim McGraw, and Whitewright Mayor Bill Goodson.

 

This year was the third time Goodson has stepped up to help the children. Others such as Matt Brown and Gene Short were making return stops to the Cotton Patch.

 

“I love to come out and met the viewers and watch the reactions of the guest,” said Matt Brown.

 

One of the guests, Robert Johns of Denison, also makes the event a yearly tradition.

 

The Toys For Tots staff is busy filling orders daily for children and the extra money raised from this event will help to make sure more children are able to have a Merry Christmas.

 

Some of the places you can visit to drop off your unwrapped toys are.

 

Sherman: KXII-TV, Consumer Credit Counseling, UR Postal Options, Hidalgo, USMC Recruiter, Denny's, Dayton Tire, Wal-Mart, The Big Apple Beauty, Hallmark Midway Mall, Ramey Chevrolet, Shaffer Cleaners, Second Hand Sports, Brenda's Antiques, UPS Store, CVS Pharmacy, A Touch of Class Antiques, Woodforest Bank (in Kroger), Albertson's, Enderby Gas, Grayson County Golf Course, Sherman Elks, Sherman Amvets, Sherman American Legion, Cingular (by Wal-Mart), I-HOP, Sherman ISD Administration, Grayson County Juvenile Svcs. (Grayson Airport), Holiman Outdoor Paintball.

 

Denison:

American Bank, Denison Glass & Mirror, EZ Mail, I-Hop, Cotton Patch Café, Shaffer Cleaners, Snow White Cleaners, Knight Family Clinic, Team Bonner, Texoma Ford, Dr. Nietling Optical, Dentures & Dental Services, Central Fire Station, Complete Communications Solutions, Fat Daddy's, CVS Pharmacy, Woodforest Bank (in Wal-Mart), Health Trends, Stonebridge Assisted Living, Apple Furniture, Rhino Linings.

 

Bonham:
Bonham State Bank, Fannin Bank, Fannin Bank (Window), The Warehouse, Bonham City Hall, Hall Electric, Dollar Tree, VA Hospital Canteen, McDonald's,
American Bank, Wal-Mart, Bonham Hardware.

 

Pottsboro:

American Bank, American Legion Lakeside, Elk's Lakeside, The Tacklebox, Tanglewood Resort, Reed Drill, Landmark Bank, Virginia Cook Realty, Sterling Market, Edward Jones.

Santa

Santa with children

Santa and customers

Donated toys

Grayson County Commissioner Gene Short

Grayson County Judge Tim McGraw and Whitewright Mayor Bill Goodson

Diana Zoga, KXII-TV

Matt Brown, KXII-TV

State Representative Larry Phillips and Whitewright Mayor Bill Goodson

State Representative Larry Phillips doing his part!

State Representative Larry Phillips

Grayson County Chief Deputy Ron Brown and Grayson County Republician Chairman Clyde Siebman

Santa and Toys For Tots' "Big Steve"

Grayson County Judge Tim McGraw

Whitewright Mayor Bill Goodson serving the public.

Whitewright Mayor Bill Goodson doing his part!