A toy drive aided by several Lincoln County Emergency responders recently collected more than $4,000 worth of toys for patients at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

The toy drive was the brainchild of Neil Pikulski, a Troy Police Officer who runs the Tough Guys Inc. clothing line with his wife Tiffany. Pikulski said a portion of the company's earnings support the hospital, but the toy drive was an extra effort that began on June 14 and lasted about two months.

The hospital will use the toys as prizes during games, give them as birthday presents and provide them to children who do not have toys of their own, Pikulski said.

Pikulski said Lincoln County Fire Protection District, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, Lincoln County Ambulance District, Lincoln County Medical Center, Troy Police Department, Full Contact Fitness, Westplex Radio 100.7 FM and Firehouse Design Creations helped with the toy drive. Toys collected averaged $6 to $7 each in value, he said.