State troopers want to make sure Santa visits every child in Georgia this Christmas season.

Georgia State Patrol teamed up with Toys for Tots for a statewide toy drive aimed at collecting thousands of presents for underprivileged children.

“Last year, we did this down in south Georgia as a trial and it turned out to be successful,” said Trooper Todd Hinson, who organized the local toy drive at GSP Post 37 in Cumming. “This year we’re trying to make it even more successful.”

Post 37 serves Dawson, Forsyth and Lumpkin counties.

Hinson hopes local residents will contribute to the goal of 5,000 toys statewide.

“This toy drive could give a child a Christmas that probably wouldn’t get one this year,” he said.

The donated toys should be new and unwrapped for newborn to teens.

As the holidays approached last year, Hinson said there was a greater need for presents to be given to older teens.

Toys can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 11 at the post, located at 4055 County Way, just off Ga. 400 in north Forsyth.

There will also be a collection box at Wal-Mart in Dahlonega from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3.

Troopers will be performing child safety seat inspections. There will also be activities for children, and a helicopter is expected to land.

“We hope to be able to collect a lot of toys that day,” Hinson said.