Newport News, Va. – Santa may have some competition this holiday season. Ferguson associates collected more than 6,500 toys for children in need.

According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, more than 16 million children in the U.S. live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. This is what motivates Ferguson associates to participate in the company’s Project Holiday Joy campaign each year, eager to spread a message of joy and hope. Associates set a company record; this season’s donations nearly tripled the previous years’ totals.

Over the past four years, Ferguson associates have collected nearly 15,000 toys for programs like Marine Corps Toys for Tots.

“There is something very special about working for a company that makes helping each other a priority,” said Ferguson CEO Frank Roach. “Not only did our Ferguson headquarter campuses participate in Project Holiday Joy, but we also had more than 400 of our locations assist families or agencies within their local communities.”

Sgt. Major Andrew V. Lucky of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, commented, “We have been amazed by all of the support and encouragement Ferguson has given to further the mission of Toys for Tots. Not only did they collect toys for the local program, but they also found warehouse space to store, sort and distribute the toys, and many associates volunteered their time.”

In addition to toys, associates collected gift bags, food and monetary donations to support children, families, pets and military in their communities Ferguson also spread holiday cheer to members of the military with hundreds of cards through the American Red Cross holiday Mail for Heroes program. Associates organized card-signing parties and brought cards home for their extended families to sign.

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