Toy toss brings joy and laughter

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Stuffed animals and toys fly through the air during the Gentry High School girls' basketball game on Friday. Following the first score on the Lady Pioneers, those in the stands tossed toys to the floor of the basketball court to be delivered to the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter.
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Stuffed animals and toys fly through the air during the Gentry High School girls' basketball game on Friday. Following the first score on the Lady Pioneers, those in the stands tossed toys to the floor of the basketball court to be delivered to the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter.

GENTRY -- When the Lady Pioneers sunk their first basket from the court on Friday night at Gentry High School, stuffed animals and toys filled the air as fans and spectators from both sides of the contest tossed stuffed toys and animals to the floor of the basketball court.

The game was stopped and the toys were quickly gathered in large bags and hauled out of the gym to be given to a special group of children during this Christmas season.

The Gentry High School student council was holding its annual toy toss for Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter during the varsity girls' game Friday night. The soft toys (mostly stuffed animals) were gathered and, together with other toys collected in containers set up in the lobby outside of the gymnasium, later delivered to the Children's Shelter in Highfill.

There, it is expected, the toys will again bring joy and laughter -- this time by being held and hugged by children away from homes and families during the Christmas season.

Community on 12/20/2017