Monday marks the beginning of the final week of the 2007Brookhaven area Toys for Tots drive.

Toys for Tots Co-chairman Kevin Kimble will lead a team ofaround eight shoppers into the Brookhaven Wal-Mart Thursday nightto purchase the Christmas toys with funds raised during this year’sdrive. Toys for Tots will use the following day to prepare for thedrive’s grand finale on Saturday, when toys will be distributed toover 250 area children from 9 a.m. until noon at the BrookhavenRecreational Department.

Kimble said the organization’s monetary goal each year is$4,000.

Toys for tots is $1,000 short of the goal for 2007. With oneweek remaining in the drive, he is not worried.

“We’ve gotten good donations this year so far, and I know wheresome more are,” he said. “We don’t always get our goal, buthopefully we will this year.”

In total value, Toys for Tots may have already passed the $4,000mark when one considers all the toys that have been donated alongwith the money.

“We’ve gotten a huge amount of toys,” Kimble said. “That helpsus out a lot. We have over 250 kids on our list, and each oneusually gets two or three toys.”

To make sure that every child on the list is able to receivemultiple toys, Kimble said the organization shops for toys that areranged in price from $5 to $10.

Kimble said the most popular toys this season for the childrenon the organization’s list, which range in age from newborn to 12years old, include Bratz dolls and Hannah Montana toys for girls.For boys, Kimble said the most popular items are the same everyyear – basketballs and footballs.

Kimble singled out Dairy Queen, King’s Daughters Medical Centerand Cable One as some of 2007’s largest contributors to Toys forTots. He offered his thanks to the community for supporting such a”worthy cause.”

“This time of year, I know everyone is busy and has alreadygiven to lots of charities,” Kimble said. “I just want to thankeveryone who took the time to make a donation to Toys forTots.”

Kimble said all the money collected by Toys for Tots is usedsolely for purchasing toys.

“If we are lucky enough to have any money left over, it stays inthe account for next year,” he said.

If any charitable Brookhavenites wish to support Brookhaven AreaToys for Tots as the deadline approaches, there are donation boxesset up at the Brookhaven Animal Medical Center, First Bank, King’sDaughters Medical Center, King’s Daughters Medical Center Therapyand Fitness Center, Republic Finance and Cable One. Kimble may bereached, after 5 p.m., at (601) 833-1418.