More toys needed for Toys for Tots

The South Central Toys for Tots Campaign has distributed more than 10,000 toys this holiday season, but it still needs almost 9,000 toys to fulfill the remaining needs by Friday.

One of the largest obstacles the campaign has faced is shipment issues from the national offices.

The group needs members of the community to help them obtain toys as it appears the toys they should have received from the national campaign may not be received until well after the distribution deadline.

Coordinator Greg Sims said that 2,000 students in McCreary County are waiting on their toys, but they will dismiss for Christmas break this week.

“From the vendors, we are not even going to see the toys until the week of the 13^th,” Sims said.

“Based on the fact that we are not going to get the shipment in before they go out of school, those kids, it looks like at this point, are going to do without,” said Sims. “That is contrary to why we are here.”

The campaign has moved the distribution day for toys, but when that date will be scheduled depends on if or when the group receives toys.

Sims said that without toy donations from the community and from shipments, many children may not receive Christmas presents this year from Toys for Tots.

If toys are not received soon, Sims said the campaign would have to begin making calls telling families they are unable to distribute gifts.

“It is not something that we want to do, it is definitely something we have never had to do,” said Sims.

Sims said that the good news is that volunteers are ready to distribute toys if they are received.

One week before expected, the group has begun collecting donation boxes from businesses.

Unfortunately, many of the boxes are close to empty.

For people that would like to donate toys, contact the Toys for Tots campaign at toysfortotssouthernky@yahoo.com or drop the toys off at the American Legion in Corbin, the Toys for Tots warehouse in Williamsburg, Ugly Mug in Barbourville, and Harley Davidson in London.

Toys should be new and still in the packaging. Monetary donations can be made at southcentral-ky.toysfortots.org. Donations made on the national Toys for Tots website are not guaranteed to go directly to the South Central Kentucky campaign.

“We need those stars to align in our favor, but they are not doing that at the moment,” said Sims.