Sunday, November 22, 2009

Franklin County Children’s Toy Project Inaugurates Orman House State Park in Historic Apalachicola


This past Saturday Nov 21, organizers with the Franklin County Children’s Toy Project sponsored their first annual charitable motorcycle run from Carrabelle to Apalachicola.

A group of area bikers escorted by St. George Island Fire Chief Jay Abbott, along with Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff Department and Santa Claus atop a bright red fire engine departed the Carrabelle IGA at Noon, and arrived at the Orman House State Park in historic Apalachicola around 12:30PM.

Once inside the beautiful park, the bikers gathered near the entrance of Chapman Botanical Garden where they donated Christmas toys and raised about $600 in cash to purchase additional toys for distribution to deserving Franklin County children.

The event also inaugurated the use of the Orman House State Park.

The Franklin County Children’s Toy Project and the motorcycle run was the first event to make use of the park grounds since the facility underwent renovations to connect Chapman Botanical Garden with the Orman House and Veterans Memorial Plaza to create the Orman House State Park.

The renovations included closing to through traffic the portion of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue between Fifth and Market Street, creating onsite parking, a sidewalk system, and open green space to connect the three facilities with all retaining their own unique identities.

The Florida Park Service manages the park as part of the long-term management agreement entered into between the City of Apalachicola, the Florida Park Service, and the Three Servicemen Statue South, Inc., in July 2008.

The Franklin County Children’s Toy Project is an collaborative effort of several agencies that includes, Franklin’s Promise, The Toy Connection, Franklin County Sheriff Department, the Carrabelle, Eastpoint, St. George Island and Apalachicola Volunteer Fire Department’s and Emergency Medical Services.

You can help make a deserving child Christmas brighter by donating a toy at one of the many collection boxes located at businesses throughout the County.

In addition, applications for toy distribution are available at the Franklin County Health Department, Franklin County Sheriff Department, Apalachicola City Hall, schools and area churches. The application deadline is Friday, Dec 4, with toy distribution held on Dec 17-18 in Apalachicola at the Fort Coombs Armory, and in Eastpoint and Carrabelle at their respective fire stations.

The Toy Project is administered through Franklin’s Promise, a 501(c) (3) organization. You can mail your tax-deductible donation to Franklin County Children’s Toy Project, P.O. Box 667, Apalachicola, Florida 32329-0667.

For more information, please call (850) 370-0970 or (850) 653-9550.

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