Stephens County’s Polar Express and Toy Drive returns this week

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners will continue its Polar Express Toy Drive this week.

Like last week, this week’s Polar Express will have two routes, one on Wednesday, December 8 and the second on Thursday, December 9.

Stephens County Commission Chair Michelle Ivester says that it is great to do this again this year.

“We are so excited to bring back the Polar Express. We did it last year for the first time and it was a huge success, so we want it to be even bigger this year. We will be doing a toy drive associated with the Polar Express and as we go through our routes and visit with the local churches, we will be collecting toys. Those will be distributed to the local Foster Parents Association and our local Salvation Army. That was important to us to make sure all of the gifts stay local for our children here in Stephens County.”

Ivester says Wednesday will be a church night. The locations for the Polar Express include:

First Baptist Church at 6:30 p.m.

Christ Fellowship at 7:00 p.m.

Ebenezer Baptist Church at 7:30 p.m.

Then on Thursday, the route will start at the Road Department, then turn right onto Scenic Drive, stopping at the entrances to Oak Cliff, then turn left onto Rock Quarry Road, then left onto Overlook and Quarry Apartments, they will exit through Morgan Concrete and turn right onto Falls Road, turn left onto Hospital Drive and circle the hospital’s Wilkinson and Clary centers, then turn right onto Falls Road, right onto Braswell Street, right onto Green Street, right onto Circle View—the second entrance, right onto Braswell street, left onto W. Doyle Street, right onto N. Broad Street, left onto W. Currahee Street, right onto Fernside Drive, left onto Wesley Circle, left onto Fernside Drive, left onto Foxdale—stopping at Foxdale Circle, left onto Fernside, right onto Fern Point and circle around, then turn right onto Fernside and stop at the Fire Station, then turn left onto Fernside and go through the light at Hwy 17 to Roselane, from Roselane they’ll turn right onto Rothell Road, left onto Cedar Lane, left onto Rothell Road, left onto Pebble Creek, right onto Julia Lane, left onto Rothell Road, left onto Skyline Drive, right onto Andrew Road, right onto Hilltop Way, right onto Rothell, left onto Skyline Drive, left onto Stephens Drive, left onto Collins Road, left onto Poplar Street to Collier Road, and right onto Swift Street back to the Road Department.

Ivester says you can also follow the Stephens County Emergency Management Facebook page for updates throughout the night on the location of the Polar Express so that you will know where to meet them.

Ivester says that this year they will not be stopping on any main roads including highways and heavily traveled roads so they can stay in the neighborhoods with points to meet up with people if needed.

Ivester encourages everyone to participate.

She says if you are not on the route and can’t bring a toy to a route point, you are welcome to bring a toy to County Clerk Beth Rider at the Stephens County Courthouse Annex, located at 802 E. Doyle Street in Toccoa. Again, the Stephens County Polar Express and Toy Drive will run this week on Wednesday and Thursday.