Toys For Tots Sees Increase In SupportMore than 700 new sites across the country are taking part in Toys For Tots this year, according to former Marine Gunnery Sgt. Dave Morales.
Most counties in Indiana are taking part.
Last year, Toys For Tots helped 16.3 million kids, with 15 million of those children living at or below the poverty level.
In Kosciusko County last year, Morales said he had more than 180 families just for Toys For Tots. With the other agencies Toys For Tots helped, like Combined Community Services, Morales said thousands of kids probably were served from hundreds of families.
In 2005, 7,800 toys were collected in Kosciusko County, and 6,500 toys were collected in 2006. In 2008, more than 5,700 toys were collected, helping more than 180 families. More than 2,000 children saw a gift under the Christmas tree in 2008. Last year, Morales said, 7,500 toys were collected.
Toys for Tots was started in the 1940s by a Marine and his wife. Handmade toys were given to needy children by the couple. From there, the program grew and now corporations help sponsor the drive.
Morales began the Toys for Tots program in Kosciusko County in 1990.
Drop-off sites began collecting toys the week of Nov. 20. They will be out until Dec. 13.
Saturday, Morales and WNDU Channel 16 will be at Martin's Super Market collecting donations.
"They are a big sponsor for the Michiana area," Morales said of Martin's.
WNDU's Tricia Sloma and Frank Waugh will be on hand from 7 to 10 a.m. Morales will continue to collect toys until 11 a.m.
Businesses serving as drop-off points in Warsaw this year are: Pier 1; Wagon Wheel; both Owen's locations; Martin's; Menard's; Marsh Supermarket; Warsaw Police Dept.; CVS; Winona Lake Fire Dept.; Walmart; Warsaw Eye Care; Day Chiropractor; Warsaw Community High School and administration buildings; Toyota of Warsaw; Monteith Tire; Reneker's Sport Shop; Big R; Walgreen's; all Dollar General Stores; Symmetry Medical; WRSW/Willie 103; Family Video; and Midas Auto Service.
In Kosciusko County, the drop-off points include: Family Dollar Stores in Silver Lake, North Webster and Syracuse; CVS stores in Syracuse and North Webster; Dollar General in Pierceton, Syracuse and Milford; and Chilcutt's Hair and Tanning, Syracuse.
Willie 103 has been doing live radio remote broadcasts and collecting toys. They will conclude those remotes Thursday and Friday at Walmart. Morales said the station has collected more than 600 toys to date.
R&B Car Co. also is matching donations they receive for Toys For Tots.
Maple Leaf Farm provided 63 boxes of stress balls for Toys For Tots.
Morales said Toys For Tots will help Salvation Army, CCS, Helping Hands along with other church groups and organizations this Christmas.
"Thanks to the city and police department for allow the use of the facility, and allowing us to store and distribute toys from here," Morales said.
Names for children will be taken 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through this Friday at the Warsaw Police Dept.
Morales said gifts are needed for all age groups, but preferably upper-age group for children 12 to 17 years old would be helpful.
Toys should be new and unwrapped. Morales said sock hats and gloves also would be helpful.
Any monetary donations may be made directly to the Toys For Tots website in care of Warsaw, Ind.; dropped off at the police department; or brought to Saturday's event at Martin's.
Anyone wanting to volunteer to deliver or sort toys can contact Morales. Toys will be delivered Dec. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
The website is at www.toysfortots.org
Toys For Tots is the only Department of Defense charitable organization that reaches out to the local community, Morales said.
For more information, to volunteer or to provide a monetary donation, contact Morales at the Warsaw Police Dept. at 574-372-9534, Ext. 341, or at 574-376-0909.
