MERIDIAN, Idaho (CBS2) — Some of our neighbors are struggling to pay bills right now, let alone Christmas presents for their kids. That's why CBS 2 and Newstalk KBOI are teaming up with the U.S. Marine Corps and several local businesses to help make a difference with this toy drive.
The winter weather hasn't hampered generosity. People have dropped off thousands of toys over the last few days, but there's still a long way to go to surpass the number of donations collected last year.
The Toys for Tots program works to make sure no matter what, every kid in the Treasure Valley has a present to open this holiday season. Congressman Russ Fulcher even stopped by to make a donation Monday.
"This inflationary thing is really having an impact, and there's a lot of families around our state that that discretionary money is having to go toward gas, it's having to go toward food items, and whatnot. So that gift under the tree for the little ones is either a lot smaller or it's not there at all," Fulcher said.
That's where your help comes in.
"We went through Covid, and toy drive grew through Covid. So I think the Treasure Valley can come through this year," said KBOI's Nate Shelman, who's leading the toy drive efforts.
Last year the Treasure Valley donated gifts for over 13,000 kids. This year, the goal is to serve even more children.
"To get one toy, to get one stocking stuffer, and to get at least one book so every kid gets to celebrate Christmas means so much," Shelman said."I'm an only child, so I thought every kid had a Christmas like I did where they unwrapped so many toys. I just thought that was the way it was, and then when you find out it wasn't, it was like, well you can do something to fix that."
You can drop off anything from Legos to teddy bears, puzzles, bikes, skateboards, and scooters. New books are also needed.
Shelman says their biggest need right now is gifts for little girls aged 0-3 and 7-13.
It’s Nathanial Garcia's second year volunteering with toys for tots, sorting, counting and wrapping toys to eventually go out to children in need across the Valley.
"So kids can have a great Christmas," Garcia, who's in fourth grade, said.
CBS2, KBOI's Nate Shelman, and local U.S. Marine Corps officers will be at our donation site in the parking lot of Meridian's Sportsman's Warehouse (3797 E Fairview Ave, Meridian) through Tuesday, Dec. 6. each day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also drop off new, unwrapped toys or books at any of the white Toys for Tots boxes you see across the community.
"It's really cool that kids don't need to be reminded of where they are in this world because they're so focused that Santa stopped by, and Santa thought of them on Christmas and wasn't too busy to skip over them," Shelman said.
"It makes me happy that I can help people out," Garcia said.
You can find out how to donate and volunteer here.
ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmpaeTlrlwwM6yqmaen6d6tbvTrGShnZyleq6typ5krK2imnqstcOsZKKmXam1pnnTq5yaq6Wnsm7CwKWjnrFdna63sYyaZKyolZi2oriMoaaloZSWxm6%2FxJqqqKY%3D