LOGAN – The holiday season is still a few months away, but the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign is already preparing to help families in need across Northern Utah.
Toys for Tots is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collects and distributes toys to children who might otherwise go without Christmas gifts. The Cache Valley campaign serves children in Cache, Box Elder, Rich, Weber and Franklin counties.
Last year, the local program helped 2,406 children and distributed about 6,200 toys, according to the area’s Toys for Tots program coordinator.
“This is the only assistance these kids get for Christmas,” local coordinator Melanie Sweet said.
Sweet said assistance is provided through individual requests rather than requests from organizations such as the Utah Division of Child and Family Services or hospitals. Toys for Tots also accepts applications from churches and other 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.
Sweet said one of the most rewarding parts of coordinating the program is seeing the reaction of families who receive assistance.
“Every year we see hundreds of families that are grateful for our assistance at Christmas time,” she said. “We have parents break down in tears when we bring toys to their children.”
The program also hears from families who do not learn about Toys for Tots until after Christmas and miss the opportunity to request assistance.
“Seeing these families that didn’t have a chance to ask us for help in time brings us great sorrow,” Sweet said.
The local program is seeking additional community support as the Christmas season approaches. Sweet said the program is still looking for a permanent location and would like to receive more monetary donations while continuing to collect toys.
Monetary donations are used to purchase toys from local stores for local families, helping parents avoid having to choose between necessities such as food and bills and Christmas gifts.
The program also needs volunteers in Cache and Box Elder counties to help during the upcoming season.
Toys needed include, but are not limited to, action figures, LEGO sets, books, earbuds, makeup, jewelry, combs, hair curlers, art sets, stuffed animals and board games.
Toys are provided to children from birth through age 18. Sweet said there is a particular need for toys for children ages 0-3 and 12-18.
“We wish every year we can help all children and never see that sorrow again,” Sweet said.
For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, contact Sweet at 435-760-2811 or visit the Logan Toys for Tots website at logan-ut.toysfortots.org. The program also can be contacted by email at logan.ut@toysfortots.org.