SUBMITTED PHOTO Blaine Fisher poses with a gift drop box alongside Matthew Nichols at Karl’s in Marshalltown, a new drop site for this year’s “Blaine’s Heart of Gold” Toy Drive. The annual drive is ongoing.

Blaine Fisher believes in giving back. When Marshalltown was hit with a tornado on July 19, 2018, he established “Blaine’s Heart of Gold” Toy Drive. Ending Dec. 6, the seventh annual toy drive’s goal is to collect unwrapped gifts for children aged newborn through 18.

Drop boxes for toy donations are at the following businesses:

• Bauder Consulting, Inc., 13 E. Southridge Rd.

• Oliver Beene Designs, 214 E. Main St.

• Taco John’s, 907 S. Center St.

• Ma Browns Cookies & More, 2909 Jackie Terrace

• REM Iowa, 21 S. Second Ave

• Marshalltown Police Department, 909 S. Second St.

• Citizens Savings Bank, 110 W. Southridge Rd.

• MAMA DiGrado’s Pasta & Pizza, 2500 S. Center St.

• Karl’s in Marshalltown Auto Group, 1000 N. Third Ave.

• Hangloose Nutrition, 121 N. Main St., Conrad

“It helps people who might not be able to afford gifts because of hardships, and just shows the love of Jesus Christ,” Blaine said of his mission. “I’m just happy and love that I’m able to help other people out.”

He has partnered with the Salvation Army of Marshalltown, and added a new partner this year – the city of Minden. In April, the town was hit by an EF-3 tornado, and 180 homes were damaged, four people wounded.

“We felt this was a perfect way to help Minden. We’ve been in contact with the city clerk and also the school district,” Blaine’s mother Kandy Fisher said. “They have a program where they help the community with toys and stuff, so we will be taking some of the gifts over to Minden in December. We have a neighbor who has a trailer. They were very hard hit and still trying to recover.”

Marshalltown recipients are people who registered to receive gifts through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.

Registration took place on Nov. 6, 7 and 12. Only parents and households which registered their children were approved, and will receive the items.

“We’re already at about 100 more children that are registered for Angel Tree this year compared to last year. We were a little over 400 last year, and we’re right about 500 and I expect it to be a little bit more,” Salvation Army Envoy John Hofer said.

In addition to Blaine’s contributions, the Salvation Army has Angel Trees holding tags with gift requests throughout Marshalltown at various businesses.

“Not everyone will actually pick a specific tag off of a tree and shop for that child’s age or gender. But for a good portion of what I see, usually the items are bagged with an angel tag with it,” Hofer said.

Kandy added the gifts do not need to be expensive. The goal is simply to ensure no one goes without.

“We do know from previous experience that the older kids — probably age 13 to 18 — don’t usually get as much. We all know the younger kids are more fun to buy for, so that’s usually the needed [age group] for gifts,” she said.

In years past, roughly $7,000 of gifts has been collected. Some entities provide financial contributions instead.

“Last year, one business donated a large sum of money, so we took that money and shopped, buying things like basketballs and soccer balls, ear buds,” Kandy said. “Having a daughter that is a high school teacher, she gave us some ideas of what her students enjoy, so that helped a lot. We are just so, so grateful for the outpouring of support that this community has. It just warms my heart.”

Both Kandy and Hofer said economic hardships have led to an increased need for donations.

“I believe there is a Santa — that there really, really is — even though we’re seeing a significant increase in the amount of angels,” Hofer said. “I think newer people in town are part of the increase. Our thrift store in town sells decent priced items, but our sales have been down. I know the need is there, but pocketbooks are a little bit thinner this year.”

The Salvation Army will continue to collect presents until Dec.17. Its toy shop [the distribution center] is open Dec. 18-20.

“If toys come in afterwards, we can use that to start augmenting for next year, and I anticipate last minute needs too,” Hofer said.