Toys for Tots seeks volunteers and more donations

Melanie Sweet grabs a toy for a family seeking help from Toys for Tots to help with their Christmas on Monday Nov. 28, 2022.

LOGAN – Toys for Tots is struggling this year. The organization is getting fewer donations, fewer volunteers and more children needing Christmas. This is the organization’s 75th year of helping children.

Chrissy and Mike Kaurasz help Toys for Tots Coordinator Melanie Sweet review applications  on Monday Nov. 28 at their new location at the Cache County Mall.

Melanie Sweet, the site coordinator, said they were further ahead last year than they are now.

“We have a new location in the Cache Valley Mall,” she said. “We have been struggling to get toys this year. We have a lot less toys and a lot more families needing help than last year.”

Toys for Tots is located where Unlimited Fun was in the southeast corner of the mall. They are not sure how long they will be there.

Mike Kaurasz puts a label on a bag after collecting all the toys for a family on Monday Nov. 28, 2022.

“We are still looking for our forever home,” Sweet said. “We are grateful they are letting us use the space.”

The 65 collection boxes have been out since the beginning of November, but they are not yielding the toys for the kids they are trying to help. They help families in Cache, Box Elder, Rich and Franklin counties.

“We work hand in hand with the Family Place, Families Feeding Families, Little Lambs, CAPSA, Shoshone Nation and the area hospitals,” Sweet said. “We have over 500 requests from different organizations.”

They will take applications until Dec. 15. Monday morning Sweet and her parents Chrissy and Mike Kauresz were stuffing bags of toys for families.

This year we are only giving two toys, two stocking stuffers, one stuffed animal and one book,” she said. “Last year we were able to give more toys per child.”

Sweet was hoping to get some more toys through their corporate offices. Some toys are sent to them from the corporate office; for instance, Pet Smart donated 400 stuffed animals.

The Walt Disney Company recently launched their 2022 Disney Ultimate Toy Drive in support of the Marine Toys for Tots Program, continuing the tradition of helping deliver toys, hope and joy to children in need during the holiday season.

Pet Smart donated hundreds of stuffed animals to Toys for Tots this year.

Disney invited their fans and families to join their drive by purchasing a toy to donate online at shopDisney.com now through December 24, 2022, or by donating a new, unwrapped toy in person at a Disney store or Disney store outlet location, the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland® Resort or Disney Springs at Walt Disney World® Resort, now through December 12, 2022.

Marine Corp Toys for Tots is in its 75th year of making sure every child has a Christmas present under the tree.

“With all the many coordinators in the U. S. we might only get 20 toys,” Sweet said. “If anyone is looking for opportunities for service, contact us,” she said.

“Disney is incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone anniversary and continue our longstanding relationship with Toys for Tots to help make the holiday season brighter for children in need,” said Jennifer Cohen, executive vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, The Walt Disney Company. “We all have the opportunity to deliver joy when we give back to our communities, and by working together through efforts like the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive, our combined impact is that much greater.”

Since 1947, Toys for Tots and volunteers have distributed nearly 630 million toys to over 280 million children.

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