Banner Staff Report

The Third Annual Matt Patterson Memorial Toy Drive to benefit neglected and abused children is underway again.

Patterson, a 2005 Logan High School Graduate and longtime lifeguard at Chief Logan State Park passed away in 2005 and the toy drive was a way his family chose to keep his memory and love of children and the holidays alive.

Patterson worked as a lifeguard until graduation then he worked for Lack's Beach Service of Myrtle Beach SC as lifeguard and in management positions. He also served on the National Search and Rescue Team in Myrtle Beach. During his years as a lifeguard Patterson was responsible for rescuing seven people. Patterson also attended Marshall University and was a member of the PIKE fraternity. At the time of his passing, he was a student at the University of Tennessee and was employed by Court South in Knoxville as an assistant manager of their water recreation facility.

Patterson was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing with his father and grandfather, Uncle Billy and sister Emily at their family retreat in Goose Island Lake in Blue Ridge, Ga., and truly loved surfing. He traveled to surf at many places with close friends like Greg Bancroft of Pawley's Island in South Carolina.

"The two were such good friends that Greg named his daughter Mattie in honor of Matt," said his mother Candy Brewer.

"Coincidentally, Mattie and Matt share close birthdays. Hers is April 15, his is April 25."

Patterson had a great love of children and came from a large family with many cousins, nieces and nephews. During Christmas break from college, Patterson often assisted his mother with distributing toys clothes and food to less fortunate youngsters. Patterson and his sister Emily also assisted their mother in helping children with the Make-A-Wish Foundation which grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses.

"Matt loved this part of Christmas and he loved to see the excitement of the children," Brewer said. "He always talked about the distributions "making his Christmas." Because Christmas is all about giving, we would like to honor Matt's dedication by ensuring that children have a good Christmas."

Patterson's family hopes to be able to assist 144 children to have a happy holiday season.

"So please bring a toy and drop it off at one of the drop-off points for Matt's kids," Brewer said.

Drop Off points will be at Giovanni's of West Logan, the LEASA office behind McDonalds and Napier's Exxon on Holden Road.

For more information contact Candy Patterson Brewer at (304) 752-6909, Scott Justice at 239-2682, Kristi Justice at 752-5474,Connie Bush at 752-11445, Cheryl Grigg at 855-8438 or Karen Stover at 784-2524.

Deadline for donation of toys is Dec. 15 as distributions are scheduled for Dec. 19, 20 and 21. Monetary donations can be accepted if one is unable to purchase toys on their own.