More than 3,688 toys were donated to the ninth annual Bank Independent and WAFF48 Toy Share toy drive over the holidays – plus $730 – surpassing 2019 goal totals and helping hundreds of families across seven counties, including Franklin.

“Toy Share is now in its ninth year, and going strong, thanks to the generous support of our communities,” said Macke Mauldin, president of Bank Independent and CEO of its parent company BancIndependent Inc. “Because of your donations, our partner organizations are able to distribute toys to children in need right here within our local communities.

Since the first Toy Share drive in 2011, partner organizations have distributed 28,788 toys and more than $8,100 to local families.

Toys were collected in all bank sales offices and were presented to partnering charitable organizations for distribution to local families prior to Christmas Day.

Recipient organization in Franklin County was the Department of Human Resources. Other partner organizations included the Angel Tree Program in partnership with Lexington High School, Christmas Charities Year Round of Madison County, Committee on Church Cooperation of Morgan County, William Porter Foundation in the Shoals, Safeplace of the Shoals, Cornerstone Church in Lawrence County, Lauderdale County Christian Children’s Home, Department of Human Resources of Lawrence County, Department of Human Resources of Limestone County and Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department.

“I want to express my gratitude to everyone who helped us make this Christmas brighter for our neighbors and friends,” Mauldin added.

Toy Share was the last of four annual Share drives hosted by Bank Independent in 2019 to give back to the community as part of Bank Independent’s Helping Hands initiative.

The first Share drive of 2020, Shelter Share, will run throughout the month of February. Shelter Share offers all Bank Independent locations as convenient donation points for pet food and supplies to be donated to area animal shelters.