-1

A high school senior in Paris, Texas personally donated 1200 toys to Toys for Tots this month. She purchased toys at reduced prices throughout the year, just as she has done for the past four years, helping to make Christmas really special for hundreds of other children.

Mariah Burton-selfieIt all began with five scooters purchased on Black Friday four years ago with money that she had saved for Christmas. Last year Mariah Burton bought 240 toys using money she earned while babysitting and doing odd chores.

This year she worked part time at a local department store and started shopping during after-Christmas sales in January, to amass an incredible 1211 quality toys for donation throughout Lamar County.

The pile of toys grew throughout the year to fill a spare bedroom at Burton’s home, and when it was time to move them to the collection site, two trucks were required to carry the haul.

Her mother Amy said, “Her passion for donating toys is contagious and, although I am her biggest fan, I cannot claim any credit for her actions.”

Mariah disagrees. Her father runs the Downtown Food Pantry in Paris and she told Good News Network that both her parents taught her to think of others before herself and to give back whenever possible.

For her dedication, Mariah served as the 2014 Toys for Tots ambassador for Delta and Lamar County, Texas.