GIVING BACK — For the 10th year, the City of Weirton is hosting a toy and food drive to benefit area residents in need going into the holiday season. Discussing the effort Tuesday morning were, from left, Brandy Brock, administrative assistant to the mayor; Parks Executive Director Coty Shingle; Police Chief Charlie Kush; and Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — For the last decade, city officials have looked at the holiday season as a time to give back to the community, and this year is no different.

Through Dec. 5, the city is hosting a toy and food drive, to support those in need and assist two organizations with their own outreach.

“We just want to give back to our community,” explained Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam.

This year, all donations of non-perishable food will be going to the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network, a local nonprofit providing a variety of services to the communities in the two counties. Among those services is a Food Security Team, as well as offering food pantries in Chester, Weirton and Wellsburg which serve more than 300 individuals a month, and blessing cabinets located in New Manchester, New Cumberland, Colliers, Weirton, Wellsburg and Beech Bottom.

Toy donations, meanwhile, will be contributed to the Salvation Army in support of its annual holiday distribution.

Donation boxes are available on the main floor of the Weirton Municipal Building, as well as the Weirton Police Department; both Headquarters and Gilson Avenue stations for the Weirton Fire Department; the Mary H. Weir Public Library, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; and the Millsop Community Center, from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Weirton Police Chief Charlie Kush noted all donations will stay local, and offered thanks to area residents for showing their support in previous years, saying the citizens of Weirton have always been willing to step up to help others.

“This community is good about that,” Kush said.

For information on the drive, call (304) 797-8500, extensions 1002 or 1003.