Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: Stockings full of silver for those helping others

The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollar" and "Wooden Nickel" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.

Silver Dollar: Silver Christmas ornaments to the many organizations raising funds or collecting goods at this time of year.

One of the bigger toy drive organizations, Toys for Tots, expects to collect and distribute gifts to more than 5,200 needy children in the community this year. The annual Christmas With a Cop event benefited more than 150 Carson City children identified by the school district's Kids in Transition Program as homeless. The children were treated to a shopping spree.

Although struggling to keep up with demand because of the economy, Toys for Tots plans to continue distributing toys right through Christmas Eve. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at any of the 60 collection points throughout the area. For information, call their hot line at 884-TOYS.

Many other service, community and church groups are helping to spread holiday cheer this season as well.

Silver Dollar: Carson High School grabbed four of the top five positions at last week's ProStart Regional Culinary competition conducted at the school. Carson will send two cooking teams and one management team to the upcoming state competition Feb. 22 in Reno.

Wooden Nickel: With state tax revenue collections $67 million behind budgeted amounts after just the first three months of this fiscal year, the state budget office has asked agencies to plan contingencies for cuts as deep as 10 percent as a worst-case scenario.

Silver Dollar: Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Foundation received donations totaling $100,000 from two area groups, Soroptimist International of Carson Valley and the Comstock Soroptimists (representing Dayton and Virginia City).

The Carson Valley club raised $95,000 and the Comstock Soroptimists $5,000. The money benefits the medical facility's cancer center.

• Editor's note: Do you have a suggestion for a Silver Dollar or Wooden Nickel award? Send your idea to editor@nevada

appeal.com.