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Toys for Tots needs more toys
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Staff Sgt. John Heine, Marine Corps recruiter, and Debi Leighton, a service center coordinator for the Salvation Army, talk near 50 tricycles donated to the Toys for Tots program from an anonymous Klamath Falls-area resident. |
Donations are down from a year ago
By Megan Doyle
H&N Staff Writer
The 1,000 board games, 50 tricycles and 100 quilts donated to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program will not be enough presents for all of the children who need toys. ¶ Toy donations, while generous, haven’t reached last year’s levels, said Eric Anderson, a co-organizer of the local toy drive. He wanted to remind people there’s still time to donate. ¶ The organization plans several pushes in the remaining weeks before Christmas. There will be an event with the Running Y homeowners’ association and possibly parking lot events at a couple of large retailers the weekend before Christmas. ¶ “I’m going to stick people at every store I can,” said Staff Sgt. John Heine.
He also is challenging all active duty and military retirees to donate.
Who it helps
Through a partnership with the Salvation Army, more than 1,000 local children will receive gifts through Toys for Tots.
The effort includes children ranging in age from newborn to teenagers, and some families with seven children, said Debi Leighton, Salvation Army Service Center coordinator.
“They’re just people who need a hand,” she said.
Some of the families have two working adults, but there’s just not enough money to make ends meet and provide for extra Christmas gifts, she said.
A giving community
Two donors who want to remain anonymous have given generously to Toys for Tots.
One donor has been dropping off boxes of board games at various locations, Anderson said. The donor gave 1,000 “Goin’ Fishing” games with a Klamath Lake theme. A local inventor had about 5,000 games made, Anderson said.
“We’ll probably put one in every bag,” Leighton said.
Another donor from the north end of Klamath Lake donates 50 Radio Flyer tricycles every year.
Both piles of items are sitting in the former Herald and News building on Esplanade Avenue, waiting to be packaged with other gifts and delivered to families.
Another set of donors, a husband and wife, dropped off a pickup-load of gifts, including a snowboard.
The hardest ages to buy for are the teenagers. Gift cards can be donated, in addition to other gifts.
“Anybody who wants to just donate money, money gives us the flexibility,” Anderson said.
No gift is too small, Anderson said. They also are in need of stocking stuffers, such as items that can be found at the dollar store, or small school supplies.
“People who give are my heroes,” Leighton said.
He also is challenging all active duty and military retirees to donate.
Who it helps
Through a partnership with the Salvation Army, more than 1,000 local children will receive gifts through Toys for Tots.
The effort includes children ranging in age from newborn to teenagers, and some families with seven children, said Debi Leighton, Salvation Army Service Center coordinator.
“They’re just people who need a hand,” she said.
Some of the families have two working adults, but there’s just not enough money to make ends meet and provide for extra Christmas gifts, she said.
A giving community
Two donors who want to remain anonymous have given generously to Toys for Tots.
One donor has been dropping off boxes of board games at various locations, Anderson said. The donor gave 1,000 “Goin’ Fishing” games with a Klamath Lake theme. A local inventor had about 5,000 games made, Anderson said.
“We’ll probably put one in every bag,” Leighton said.
Another donor from the north end of Klamath Lake donates 50 Radio Flyer tricycles every year.
Both piles of items are sitting in the former Herald and News building on Esplanade Avenue, waiting to be packaged with other gifts and delivered to families.
Another set of donors, a husband and wife, dropped off a pickup-load of gifts, including a snowboard.
The hardest ages to buy for are the teenagers. Gift cards can be donated, in addition to other gifts.
“Anybody who wants to just donate money, money gives us the flexibility,” Anderson said.
No gift is too small, Anderson said. They also are in need of stocking stuffers, such as items that can be found at the dollar store, or small school supplies.
“People who give are my heroes,” Leighton said.
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