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MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Trish Blair - (573) 874-0268

Local group collecting toys for shipment to sister city

COLUMBIA, MO (December 17, 2004) -- Area residents will have the
opportunity to spread holiday cheer to children in Columbia's sister
city by dropping off new and gently used stuffed animals from 12:30 p.m.
to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at the south entrance of the Parkade Center,
601 Business Loop 70 W.

The toys will join a shipment of medical supplies, study carrels and
computers leaving Tuesday for Kutaisi, Georgia. Columbia Mayor Darwin
Hindman will join volunteers from A Call To Serve-Missouri
(ACTS-Missouri) at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Parkade Center loading
docks on the building's north side to officially finish filling the
40-foot sea container. Media representatives are invited to attend.

"Because we need more soft packing materials to make the container's
contents fit tightly, we thought that stuffed toys would be an ideal way
for Columbians to participate in helping children at this time of year,"
said ACTS President Trish Blair, M.D., of Columbia.

The Parkade Center's management group donated the study carrels and
storage space, and Premier Moving and Storage will provide assistance
with packing and logistics. The computers in the shipment include one
from Hindman, which will be used by ACTS staff members in Georgia to
track humanitarian aid coordinated by their organization.

Those who cannot drop off toys on Sunday also may bring them anytime
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to the ACTS office, located in Suite 153A
of the Parkade Center. For more information, call 874-0268 or visit
www.acalltoserve.org.

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