Carl Ford’s love of Christmas continues to spread throughout the Southeast.

Helping continue the love of the season, Chris DeVault – Elizabethton native and Ford’s nephew – is giving “Carl’s Christmas Cheer’ the green light for a fifth consecutive year to the children of South Carolina.

Over the past four years, DeVault has organized the drive in conjunction with the Toys for Tots program offered by the United States Marine Corps. DeVault works as head athletic trainer for schools in Georgetown County, South Carolina, and noticed the need for Christmas cheer.

“Last year, our goal was to provide 400 toys and we were able to provide 405,” DeVault told the Elizabethton Star. “We raised $800 from people in Elizabethton. It’s such a great feeling to see people come together for the children of this area and to remember Carl in such a way.”

It was roughly seven years ago since Ford lost his life and the drive is one way to keep his memory going between the two communities.

“He was a gentle heart and such a special person. You want to think it gets easier each year, but it doesn’t,” DeVault explained about Ford’s passing. “We tried things before but the Toys for Tots program is set up so well and it’s such a great way to donate. Everybody was able to learn more about Carl’s story during this drive. All funds raised from the drive go directly to the children of Georgetown County.”

Similarities are in abundance between Georgetown County and Elizabethton. Since moving to the area, DeVault noted the community it full of hard-working individuals that typically live paycheck-to-paycheck and that sometimes Christmas can be rough for some.

But seeing Elizabethton, and residents of the South Carolina community, come togethers make the project worthwhile.

“We’re 435 miles apart,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re all family. We all bleed red. I think it takes one town to understand what another goes through. We have so many people from Elizabethton that donate because of Carl, but we also have a lot that donate just to recapture that childhood of buying a toy from Christmas. Last year, I helped with the distribution and it was so great. You see the smiles on the children’s faces, it puts everything in perspective.”

DeVault added he’s already received presents from residents in Elizabethton and he receives help from family members, Rita Ford, and his mother Carolyn.

“They’re very active in the project and do what they can to help,” he said.

Any individuals looking to make a donation, or provide a gift card from Wal-Mart, can call Carolyn at (423) 512-1946 or Ford at (423) 542-6781. DeVault also encouraged individuals to visit the Carl’s Christmas Cheer Facebook page online for updates

Residents can also visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/25853KZ6H7IPG to make toy purchase that will go directly to the Toys for Tots program. The deadline for donations is Friday, Dec. 15

Updates on the drive will appear in future editions of the Elizabethton Star.