All Cherokee County fire stations are now open to give a little help to Santa by serving as Toys for Tots collection centers.

Community members are invited to bring new unwrapped toys to any local fire station today through Dec. 20.

Including Cherokee County, the Atlanta Toys for Tots Campaign supports 17 counties in metro Atlanta and all toys collected stay within the county they are received.

Although 726,000 toys were collected last year, Toys for Tots didn’t meet all the requests for toys and officials are ramping up efforts to ensure each child takes a toy home for the holidays this year.

Tim Prather, Cherokee County fire chief and a former U. S. Marine said he is excited about helping with the Toys for Tots campaign.

“I was an active duty Marine from 1977 to 1980 and assisted with Toys for Tots, so it is a very special program for me,” Prather said. “We also have several former Marines who are now firefighters for Cherokee County. This is a wonderful way to help children who are in need during the holidays.”

The Toys for Tots Program has provided children with toys for the last 65 years.

Officials with the Atlanta Toys for Tots Campaign are anticipating another successful season in 2012 and plan to work with local agencies to bring the joy of Christmas to the children in Atlanta.

Atlanta Toys for Tots is a local affiliate of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and helps needy families throughout the metro-Atlanta area.

Information regarding monetary donations and volunteer opportunities can be found on the organization’s website www.atlantatoysfortots.com.

For more information about fire station locations or making donations locally, contact Cherokee County Fire Headquarters at (678) 493-4000.