Sixth-grader raises money, buys books for Toys for Tots

Funding for books and a $400 donation were raised by sixth grader Laney Kimbro for the Olney Volunteer Fire Department.

Laney’s fifth-grade teacher, Brooke McElroy, nominated her for the Lone Star Leadership Academy last summer. Following the camp experience, she joined the Alumni Council and continued completing online education to further work on her leadership skills. One of the requirements of the Alumni Council is to come up with a community service project. Laney chose to raise money for Olney VFD to give books to the Toys for Tots program. Her goal was $1,000. “Laney set her goal based on an average number of 160 kids signed up for the program,” her mother, Mindi Kimbro, said. “With support from the community, she was able to beat that goal and have money left over.”

After doing a Thanksgiving dessert sale and getting donations from local businesses and leaders, including Mark McClelland from Tower Extrusions, Carrie West from Raymond James in Olney, and Missy Reed from the Olney Hamilton Hospital Wellness Center, she had raised $1,140.

With the money she bought close to 110 books for all ages and delivered them to Olney VFD along with a donation of $422 to the VFD. She was assisted by several volunteers, including Emerald Edgington, Keela King, Bailey Spurlock and Madison Spurlock when it came to baking the desserts, purchasing the books, sorting the books by age and delivering them to the OVFD before Toys for Tots pickup.

“It is a great feeling to know that kids got books for Christmas because of this project. It feels wonderful to accomplish it,” Laney said. “I would do it again because it was a fun project that taught me a lot and it gave kids books.”