Completely volunteer run, Toys for Tots is committed to bringing a small bit of hope to children who may otherwise not get any during the Christmas season. The main goal of the organization is to bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to children locally and nationally who are in need. One of the coordinators in Jamestown, Heather Brown, said this year that commitment has continued with a record breaking collection.

“We had 120 box sites and amazing donors,” Brown said. “We have many outgoing volunteers but the number of applications has increased. Our boxes are still out through Wednesday, but it appears that this is our largest year ever.”

Most collection boxes have been returned at this point, but Toys for Tots is still accepting monetary donations online as the season winds down.

“People can go on the website and make donations to help fill in the last gaps,” Brown said. “They can help right up until Christmas. We keep it going as long as we can.”

Volunteers gathered on Saturday, Dec. 16 to bring in the collected toys and begin bagging them for children for Christmas. Submitted photo

Collection boxes, which were put out back in October, have been brought back in over the weekend to have the items donated be bagged up last Saturday, Dec. 16, and Wednesday Dec. 20. Monetary donations can still be made online at toysfortots.org.

Brown thanked the community volunteers and her fellow coordinators — Terri Johnson and Patrick Smeraldo — for their work.

“I just want to thank the community that donated and volunteered, along with my two other coordinators,” Brown said. “Thank you for your commitment and work this year.”

Southwestern Central School basketball players are pictured with donations they gathered for Toys for Tots.