Toys For Tots Are Looking For More Donations
With the economy in a standstill, many people are having trouble putting presents under the tree this year.
As Mike Schuh reports, the local Toys for Tots Gift Drive is far from reaching its goal.
Santa sometimes gets a boost from those in a different uniform. Two Marines run Baltimore's Toys for Tots campaign.
"Yeah, it's one of the larger campaigns in the nation," said SSGT Patrick Stefan.
This year in Baltimore there are many parents that are unable to supplement Santa.
"I had to close toy requests early this year because of the influx of requests," said Stefan.
"We do need more toys. We probably will run short if we don't get more before the end of season," said SSGT Alexander Fenno.
"We have 40,000 kids signed up. Last year we had 57,000 toys, and right now we only have 12,000," said Stefan.
So where will they get the additional toys? Well, they are hoping it will come from people in Maryland.
There are 300 drop boxes in our area. Much of what's been donated has already been distributed.
It's one thing to get all the toys, it's another to get them out to where they're needed. What they also need are empty boxes to pack the items in.
"We have to pick up the toys between the 13th and 17th of December, so we have enough time to get them out to the organizations," said Stefan.
Each year, they don't get enough toys for some age groups. That's where cash is king, with the Marines buying age appropriate toys to fill in the gaps.
Click here to find out drop locations.
