Donations from New York help fill stockings

NEVADA, Mo. -- New Yorkers -- many saying they wanted to return the generosity bestowed on them after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks -- helped fill the stockings of 400 children in this southwest Missouri county of 20,500 people.

In the weeks before Christmas, the Vernon County Ambulance District had struggled to reach its $5,000 goal for the annual toy drive. While donations were low, demand for toys was high.

On Friday a story about the county's struggles appeared in The New York Times. Within a day about $8,000 in donations and pledges had come in from as far away as both coasts.

"We were blown away," McKenzie said.