Thankfully, there's Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is synonymous with Christmas giving and the holiday is just around the corner.

Taking over operations for this year's Toys for Tots campaign is the Ron Wood Family Resource Center at 212 E. Winnie Lane. With economic and financial uncertainty facing many families today, director Joyce Buckingham said she is sure there will be as many families needing assistance this Christmas, if not more than in 2007.

"We are working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Marines recruiting office in Carson City," Buckingham said. "They're a very viable part of this. It's their project, they started it."

Request for toy assistance for families begins Monday. The number is 884-8697 (TOYS). Calls will be taken from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 26.

There is no financial statements required, however, identification for each child and the person picking up the toys is necessary.

New, unwrapped toys for all ages from newborn to 17 are needed, specifically, toys for ages 11-15.

"They get overlooked or they're difficult to buy for," said Sgt. Christopher Allworth, recruiter for the U.S. Marine Corps Carson City office. "By continuing Toys for Tots, it is our way to give back to the community.

"The Marine Corps is more than a military organization, it helps out with its community. It means a lot to us personally to be directly involved."

Thirty-seven area businesses and offices are official drop-off locations. Volunteers are needed to take phone calls at the center, pick up toys from drop-off locations and sort toys. Employees of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center will distribute the toys on Dec.1-5 and Dec. 8-12.

"If anybody calls after our distribution dates, we will help," Buckingham said. "We're not going to turn the family away.

"We get a lot of families who ask for bicycles and some of them have more than one child. What we're going to do is put their names into a lottery and pick them out at chance so all families have an equal opportunity."

Santa Claus " aka Gary Ashby " may also be make the delivery rounds.

"Oh, I might possibly deliver some of the toys personally," Ashby said. "But I couldn't do this without the help of the Marines."

Buckingham suggests gifts for girls include crafts and curling irons, and for the boys, action items like skateboards, Zip Sticks, athletic materials and the such.

"We do ask people donating be sure to have the toys delivered to us by the end date of Nov. 26," Allworth said. "We had large bags of toys left at our office last year. We're open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m."

Buckingham said they also take care of requests from Eagle Valley Children's Home, foster homes and Carson City Health and Human Services.

"We basically want everyone to be covered," she said. "I don't want any youth to go without."

- Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.