The Toy Drive, a Volunteers of America tradition in Central Pennsylvania for more than 80 years, begins each year just after Thanksgiving.    Toys are collected in our colorful cardboard chimney boxes.  The history of the Volunteers of America chimney dates to 1900 when they were first used by Sidewalk Santas.    The Santas stood by the chimneys ringing a bell for Volunteers of America as they sought monetary donations to help the needy.   While that tradition is alive today in New York City, where all Sidewalk Santas must attend Santa College to learn the proper way to say ho-ho-ho, as well as other points of Santa etiquette.   In Central Pennsylvania, however, the chimneys are used for collecting toys. This year there was an outstanding response from a large number of businesses and organizations.    Volunteers of America thanks all of the businesses, organizations and individuals who did a tremendous job in making the season a little brighter for children who have little.

Here are just some of the many companies and organizations who participated include:   WHTM-TV abc 27 Harrisburg   Penn National Insurance Harrisburg   Saul Ewing, LLP Harrisburg   PA School Boards Association Mechanicsburg   Planet Fitness Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg   Duquesene University Camp Hill   Marsh USA Harrisburg   Centric Bank   M&T Bank   Integrity Bank   Graystone Bank   Sovereign Bank   York Technical Institute Mechanicsburg   First Christian Church Lemoyne   The Foundation for Enhancing Communities Harrisburg   REDDI Harrisburg   Talbot's Harrisburg   Uniglobe Travel Management Consultants Mechanicsburg   Rettew Associaties Camp Hill   Signature Staffing Lemoyne   Adams-Hanover Counseling Service Harrisburg   Wix, Wenger & Weidner Harrisburg   Pennsylvnia School Boards Association Mechanicsburg   Arthur Murray Dance Studio Lemoyne, York   Hampton Inn Harrisburg West Mechanicsburg   Kope & Associates Camp Hill   SECCO, Inc. Camp Hill   Outback Steak House Harrisburg   Harrisburg Auto Auction Mechanicsburg   Curves of West Hanover Harrisburg   National Recovery Agency Harrisburg   Quantum Imaging Camp Hill   ACS, Inc. Harrisburg   TruGreen ChemLawn Harrisburg   Kinkora Pythian Home Duncannon   Siemens Building Technologies Mechanicsburg   NAI/CIR Wormleysburg   Nauman Smith Shussler & Hall Harrisburg Loyalton of Harrisburg Harrisburg   Essex House Lemoyne   High Associates, Ltd. Mechanicsburg   The Manor at Oakridge Harrisburg