By GREG JORDAN
BLUEFIELD — Two nationally-known celebrities visited the region Friday to kick-off a national toy drive created to help children give children in need a good Christmas.
Psychologist and talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw and wife Robin McGraw arrived in Bluefield to help start the 2007 Toys for Tots campaign. The plane carrying Dr. Phil’s party was delayed by fog at the Mercer County Airport, but local residents crowded outside the Norfolk & Southern Corporation’s offices on Princeton Avenue for the presentation.
“I love you, Dr. Phil!” a woman shouted as he stepped to the podium.
“This is our 60th anniversary, ” Dr. Phil said. “It’s a program started and maintained by United States Marine Corps. When we were asked to help with this program, we were just honored, We said of course we could because we are so focused on disadvantaged children and raising awareness.”
Toys for Tots has been a major success, Dr. Phil said.
“Last year they distributed 19.2 million toys to almost 8 million children, which means people are opening their hearts and checkbooks to children in need,” Dr. Phil said.
Toys for Tots continues to grow. Jack Grose, the program’s local coordinator, said this year Marines hope to support or help support 2,000 children in a five-county area including Mercer, McDowell, Monroe and Summers counties in West Virginia and in Tazewell County, Va.
This year there are Toys for Tots has 602 programs across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, said Lt. General Matthew T. Cooper, USMC (Ret), president and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
“That’s the most extensive program we’ve ever had,” Cooper said. “It’s an increase of 44 programs since last year.”
Having the McGraws agree to co-chair the Toys for Tots for a second year gives the effort status like “the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval,” Cooper said.
Toys donated by Hasbro were distributed in Bluefield and Tazewell, Va. to help kick of this year’s campaign. Volunteers started passing toys from the stage and a military truck as Dr. Phil’s train departed for Tazewell County.
“The point is to get the toys to those children who otherwise would not have one this Christmas,” Dr. Phil “Really, though, it’s more than just a toy. It give them a sense of hope and optimism, and let’s them know that good things do happen. It gives them a little hope and optimism. It lifts their spirits. You saw the faces on the kids.”
Dr. Phil’s party was delayed when fog blanketed the Mercer County Airport’s runway; however, it did give the McGraws an opportunity to see Bluefield from the air.
“I was so worried that we wouldn’t make it,” Dr. Phil said later. “Everywhere was clear, bright and sunny except for the airport. We could see the town, we could see the train station, we could see the people. One of the blessings of circling around was seeing the area. It is so beautiful.”
The McGraws visited the Wade Center in Bluefield before coming to the rail station where a special train was waiting, getting an overview of the center’s programs for children. Before leaving Bluefield to visit the Clinch Valley Community Action in Tazewell, Va., the McGraws and Renuzit of the Dial Corporation presented the Wade Center with a new 15-seat van, plus $5,000 for insurance and fuel.
The Norfolk Southern Foundation had a $25,000 donation for the Wade Center.
“To show our gratitude for Toys for Tots and the Wade Center, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Norfolk Southern has donated a monetary award to the Wade Center as well as railroad history gifts to General Cooper and Dr. Phil,” said Superintendent Gary Shepard of the Pocahontas Division.
More toys to donate and another crowd of admirers was awaiting the special train when Dr. Phil party arrived in Tazewell, Va. for a visit at Clinch Valley Community Action Center. There the Toys for Tots co-chairs saw the services available to area children and other people in need.
“We had around right around 900 children that came,” said Laura Hunt, a spokesperson for Toys for Tots. “Burlington Coat Factory donated a thousand coats and Hasbro had more toys. Every child left with a new coat and a new toy.”
Lowe’s built two new play rooms for the Clinch Valley center and Gateway Computer supplied new computers for the facility, Hunt said.
“They [Clinch Valley] reached out to all the agencies they work with and it was a fantastic success,” Hunt said.
Norfolk Southern is a national partner with Toys for Tots, she said.
