The 18th annual toy and coat drive at Cash Express was a big success this year. 

The lobby of Cash Express was full of toys and other donated items. The business partnered with Kids of the Community this year and collected donations over the past few months. 

“This is our 18th annual toy and coat drive. Basically what we do is we pair with our local Kids of the Community and we collect donations. We collect monetary donations, clothing, shoes, coats, nonperishable foods - basically whatever can be donated and used by children or families that may not be as fortunate,” said Kayla Mullins, with Cash Express. 

Cash Express sold stockings for a dollar and held bake sales to help raise money. This year, 29 local businesses also helped collect donations. They collected both monetary and other donations. Mullins totaled the monetary donations and spent those funds to buy new items to donate. 

“This year I bought a bunch of toys!” said Mullins excitedly. 

Kids of the Community collected the numerous donations on Friday. Kids of the Community Director Shelby Smartt wants to thank the community for the donations. 

“We appreciate it very much,” said Smartt. 

Mullins and the rest of the staff at Cash Express are thankful for the opportunity to help this Christmas season. 

 “It is fun and very rewarding,” said Mullins. “We see the smiles on Kids of the Community’s faces. I have done this for three years now and it feels nice and is very heartwarming. I love it.”