Toys For Tots Facing Critical Need

BOSTON -- Call it a sign of the times. Donations for Toys For Tots are down and now there's a major push to get enough toys for needy children.

Toys For Tots Pleads For Donations

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that there are lots of empty boxes at the State Police barracks warehouse in South Boston where the toy drive has been going on for two months.

"We are seeing a lot more requests from organizations," said office manager Kay Carpenter.

State Police are joining the Marine Corps in collecting for the Toys for Tots program and unwrapped toys must be in the South Boston warehouse by Dec. 19 in order to fill the requests by Christmas Eve.

The 61st annual toy drive is run by the Marine Corps which collects the toys and matches them with needy families.

"We are down this year. It is going to be a tough year and we understand that. But we are most definitely looking forward to the donations so we can make sure to put a smile on a kid's face somewhere throughout the Massachusetts area," Master Sgt. Ron Johnson said.

While more families are looking for help, however, they've collected about half the toys they got by last year at this time and usually they have left-over toys from the year before. Last year though they were short last because of all the unsafe toys made in China that were recalled.

Workers said since the story was on the news, interest has picked up.

"Since it was TV this morning, we have been getting a lot of calls in here that people want to have collection points to collect toys," said volunteer Ellie Canty.

Need has also increased 20 to 25 percent this year with about 300,000 requests for toys.

So far, only about 5,000 requests have been filled.

They particularly need toys for children under 2 years old and for children ages 9 to 12.

Toys can be dropped off at any State Police barracks.