Toys for Tots of Southern Kentucky names youth ambassadors

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Three Toys for Tots Youth Ambassadors are being announced for 2025-26.

The United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots of Southern Kentucky announced Wednesday that three young members of the local community are Toys for Tots Youth Ambassadors.

These include the following:

• Trent Harris
  • Harris has been named a youth ambassador for a second term. According to Toys for Tots, Harris was selected as a Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador in 2023 and was promoted to Youth Ambassador Mentor in 2024. Harris will begin his second term as a Mentor in October 2025. Harris is one of 35 National Youth Ambassadors across the United States and one of thirteen Youth Ambassador Mentors. Harris has been volunteering to help children experience the joy of toys since age 2 in Taylor County. Harris is the son of Johnny and Lisa Harris of Campbellsville. He is 16 years old and attends Campbellsville High School.
  •  Along with his dedication to Toys for Tots, Harris serves as a volunteer firefighter and is CPR certified. Harris has a long-time passion to help others. Harris enjoys coordinating donated food and clothing items and distributing them to families in need within his community. One of his biggest joys is to deliver items to the residence of the local nursing home and to visit with the veterans. Harris participates in pancake breakfasts, parades, and other community activities. At Christmastime, Harris, and a group of youth volunteers, shop, sort and distribute toys to hundreds of children in Taylor County.
• Darby Meredith
  • Meredith has also been named a youth ambassador for a second term and was selected as a National Youth Ambassador Mentor for a first term. Meredith is one of 35 National Youth Ambassadors across the United States and one of 13  mentors. She has been volunteering to help children experience the joy of toys since she was seven years old.
  • Meredith is the daughter of Chris and Kelly Meredith of Bowling Green, KY. She is 15 years old and attends Greenwood High School as a sophomore. Meredith is a member of the Greenwood High School Lady Gator Golf Team, FFA, Choir, BETA Club, Young Life, FCA, and the musical program. In addition to volunteering with Toys for Tots, Meredith has also volunteered with the Toys for Tots nursing home initiative, Kelly Autism Program, DSSKY, BG/WC Humane Society, and is a former Jr. Board member of Kids on the Block. She has organized the annual Toys for Tots “Taillights & Toys” Car Show, created the Toys for Tots “Teeing Off for Tots” Golf Scramble, placed 2nd in the nation for the Youth Ambassador Toys for Tots Literacy Challenge, has assisted with toy deliveries on Christmas morning, is currently collecting school supplies for local elementary schools, and has volunteered in all aspects of Toys for Tots.
• Kinley Furlong
  • Furlong is the third individual to be named a youth ambassador. Furlong is 15 years old, a 10 th grader and attends Hart County High School. Furlong is the daughter of Joseph and Amber Furlong of Munfordville, KY. She is a member of FFA, FCA, BETA, HOSA, Science Club, and the SADD Club at her high school. Furlong is also a varsity cheerleader. She enjoys participating in community service projects such as bagging and distributing trees for the conservation office, volunteering to bring donated items to the local nursing home, and assisting with commodities at a local church. Furlong has volunteered with Toys for Tots for two years and has been a huge asset to the Toys for Tots Hart County program.

Janel Doyle, Marine Toys for Tots coordinator for Southern Kentucky, said, “Trent has been instrumental in helping children, visiting with the elderly and veterans, and he serves the entire Taylor County Community as a volunteer fire fighter. Trent will be organizing the 1 st Annual Firing Up for Christmas event in Taylor County this fall. We are proud of Trent and truly enjoy watching his leadership and servant heart grow. Youth are our future and the Marine Toys for Tots Program is blessed to serve others with such an extraordinary young man.”

Doyle said, “Darby has a huge servants heart and a deep passion to serve others which shines in her dedication with Toys for Tots and within our Warren County community. Darby’s vision of organizing the “Taillights and Toys” car show and the “Teeing Off for Tots” golf scramble raised thousands of dollars and impacted hundreds of children. The future of our nation is in the hands and hearts of our children and we are blessed to have Darby continue in this role”.

Doyle said, “Kinley is filled with positive energy and has a huge servants heart. Her volunteerism and love for the Hart County community shows in her actions and dedication. We are excited to have Furlnog join the national Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador team and represent Toys for Tots of Southern Kentucky”.

Currently, there are 35 Youth Ambassadors that were selected by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation for 2025-26 across the nation.