🎅🏼 What would happen if Santa was a teenager

Reed Marcum has always been shy. Bullied in school, the teen always struggled with anxiety and fitting in. 

When Reed discovered that one of his fellow classmates wasn't going to receive any Christmas gifts seven years ago, however, the quiet boy asked his mom if they could start a toy drive to help. “I wanted to make sure that everyone in my class had a toy under the tree and that no kid got left out,” said Reed, now 18.

And thus, Reed’s 4-H Toy Giveaway was born. 

🎁 Small steps add up... That year, Reed collected about 1,000 toys to deliver to kids in need. The toy drive was so successful that the preteen had to use his stepdad's office for storage the next year to continue the tradition. 

Now, with a team of about 200 volunteers to distribute 10,000+ donated toys to kids in the Southern Oklahoma area, Reed needs a lot more space than his stepdad's office. And his toy drive has been a community staple for the last seven years. 

• It's even become a drive-thru event, with each child selecting one new toy as they drive by.
• “We have walls of toys lined up on each side of the cars, and kids tell us which ones to grab as their parents drive them through the line,” Reed said. “Seeing the happy looks on their faces is always the best part.”

💪❤️ The impact: More than anything, however, the toy drive has helped Reed become confident in who he is. According to his mom, he has an "old soul" and loves seeing the kids' reactions to receiving their new toys. She's watched him grow from a shy 11-year-old into a strong 18-year-old businessman.

“Reed is humble about what he’s done, but the truth is, he never stops giving,” said Reed’s 4-H leader, Greg Owen. “He’s gotten the whole community involved – everyone wants to do what they can to help now, whether it’s volunteering or donating.” 

• Reed’s various projects have raised more than $3.5 million in funds and donations since 2016.