Toys For Tots organizers want you to drop the traditional idea of dropping off toys this year for its drive to help struggling families at Christmas.
Instead, to make the process safer amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they have ditched drop-off locations and instead want people to buy online at three different online sites, where the gifts will be shipped straight to the organizers to prepare them for families who will receive them in a drive-thru pickup.
“This way, there are fewer hands involved in the exchange,” said Kim DeBusk, coordinator for the Toys For Tots in Bartholomew and Jennings counties.
The effort is a not-for-profit United States Marine Corps Reserve program distributing toys to children and young people whose parents cannot afford to buy gifts for Christmas. Last year, the program provided gifts for 1,791 youngsters in Bartholomew and Jennings counties. Organizers say the need has increased by 28 percent in the past three years.
It is just one local outreach to give toys to needy children at Christmas. There are others, such as the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund; the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center Angels of Love; and The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
Toys for Tots works with the local Holiday Helpline to make certain there is no duplication of families helped.
Organizers said the best and fastest way for people to help is a direct monetary donation, beginning with an email to [email protected].
Three toy donation options, with a purchase deadline of Nov. 30, are:
Buying from the Viewpoint Books online wish list at viewpointbooks.com/toys-tots or purchase a gift card to Viewpoint.
Buy from the Toys for Tots Walmart online wish list at walmart.com/lists/view-events-registry-items?id=b3af4079-f91f-46e3-b03a-84ac8d406396
Buy from the Toys for Tots Amazon online wish list at amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/10LJFQYFX70CM/ref=cm_wl_huc_view?viewType=list
A total of 97 cents of every donated dollar goes to gifts, according to organizers. Only three cents of each dollar goes for distribution.
Information: The Facebook page for Toys for Tots Bartholomew and Jennings counties
