By By Adrienne McKenzie
Santa Clause will not be the only one making children happy on Christmas morning. DeeDra Kelley is hosting the third annual "Up on the Rooftop" toy drive Saturday in order to raise money for children in need.
Kelley said the toy drive at Fred's located on Lindberg Avenue started in an effort to help children affected by Hurricane Katrina.
"What started the toy drive was Hurricane Katrina," Kelley said. "The very first one we did, we took the toys to Coden (Ala.) and then we delivered the rest of the toys in town."
Coden is a small community of approximately 300 people. There are a lot of children in the area and it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters.
"We started it for the children," Kelley said. "Because those kids weren't going to have a Christmas."
Last year all the toys were distributed around the Atmore area.
Kelley and her daughter, Chasity, will sit on the roof of Fred's as Jennifer Stanley and April Amos collect toys and hand out candy canes. Earl Bryant with Tri-Co Electric Co. will be putting the Kelley women onto the roof with his bucket truck. The event will not be over until one of the ambulances from Kelley's Ambulance is filled with toys.
However, the toy drive is not all about the toys, money can also be donated in order to help children.
"With the money we will take it and use it to purchase toys and food bags for the elderly at Rotary Village," Kelley said.
Jody Jeter with LA Bikers has agreed to distribute the toys.
The deadline for registering for assistance is Dec. 7. Applications can be picked up and turned in at The Atmore Advance located at 301 South Main Street.