Each year, Oak Mountain Middle School students set a goal of $20,000 for the local Toys for Tots campaign.  And each year they not only reach that goal, but they exceed it, guaranteeing that many deserving children in Central Alabama will have presents under their Christmas trees.

This year the students raised over $23,000.  The school has raised over $300,000 since it first began its annual Toys for Tots campaign in 1999.  The school holds the national record for the largest school donation for Toys for Tots with $42,000 raised in 2006.

The Oak Mountain Toys for Tots project is lead by the National Jr. Honor Society.  On Thursday, December 11, the National Jr. Honor Society students spent the money on new toys and thanks to some savvy coupon shopping and the generosity of the local toy store, the students were able to get almost $28,0000 in merchandise.   The United States Marine Corps, who sponsors Toys for Tots, attended the school’s Christmas Assembly that afternoon to pick up the toys, where they filled up a large Marine transport vehicle, a trailer, and a moving truck.