THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Danville Area Toys for Tots volunteer Izabel Juarez, left, helps parent Ginger Gravitt find toys for her 10-year-old son, during Wednesday’s Toys for Tots distribution (8-4:30 Wed, 8 -11:30 AM Thurs) at St. James United Methodist Church.
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DANVILLE — Losing her job in July, Sophia Baker of Danville wasn’t sure what Christmas would be like for her youngest child, 4-year-old Emerson.
Ten years ago, Baker said Danville Area Toys for Tots helped her when she had two children, now ages 23 and 18. This year, she was able to pick out some items including from the tables full of donated books, toys and games.
“This is a big help for me,” Baker said. “It helps tremendously. It makes me very grateful. I’m so happy for any help and just for them to be able to give this much for my one son. It’s a lot.”
She said especially now, they will have a really nice Christmas.
“I did not expect this much. I am so excited,” Baker said.
Distribution days for needy families are Wednesday and Thursday at St. James United Methodist Church in Danville.
Parents waited outside in the cold starting Wednesday morning to have presents for their children to open on Christmas morning.
That’s the goal of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation too, to make sure every child has a happy holiday.
The Marine Toys for Tots program, seen most often through boxes where donated items can be dropped off throughout communities, collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December and distributes them to less fortunate children as Christmas gifts each year. Its mission: “Through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to economically disadvantaged children.”
Danville Area Toys for Tots Coordinator Megan Montgomery said they served about 1,200 children last year. This year they expect to serve around 3,000. The program serves families in Vermilion County, in addition to Fountain and Warren counties in Indiana.
This year also was a first time for online registration to receive toys.
Donations were down this year, but they are trying to meet families’ needs, Montgomery said.
For the 0-24 months and 2–3-year-olds age groups, they didn’t receive a lot of donations.
“Fortunately (the Marine Toys for Tots) foundation supplemented… and gave us stuff for certain age groups,” Montgomery said.
Toys for Tots accepts donations online, but the collection boxes at locations throughout the area are how the program receives the majority of its items.
“The boxes have been good for us,” Montgomery said.
This is Montgomery’s fifth year as coordinator. Her family, including her brother, Michael, has been involved with Toys for Tots for many years.
Montgomery said, “it’s a lot of work, but you don’t want a kid not to have something for Christmas.”
On Christmas morning, she thinks about all the happy children of the families they’ve served.
“So, it’s a goal to be able to give them all something for Christmas,” she added.
Volunteers helping the families include students and parents from area schools and organizations, including Salt Fork FFA.
One of the volunteers helping lead parents around the tables to collect toys for their children is Izabel Juarez who said she’s happy to be home from attending Southern Illinois University and help out.
Volunteer Helen Carswell added, “at least you know a child is getting a gift.
She’s volunteered for four years with Toys for Tots. She too is grateful to help organizations and the community which have helped her in the past.
Parent Ginger Gravitt of Danville was picking out Nerf and other toys and items on Wednesday.
“It lets him have Christmas and be happy,” she said of her 10-year-old son, Levi.
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