KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The Kent County Toys For Tots program received a much-needed boost on Sunday when supercenter chain Meijer donated $5,000 in toys.
Volunteers of all ages gathered at the Meijer store in Standale to shop for items in age groups where the program says there is short supply.
"I feel sad for the people who can't have fun things at Christmas who don't have money for it," one young shopping volunteer said.
Toys for Tots' Kent County Coordinator Jeff DeJonge said that registrations for toys this year are very close to what they were last year, when they set a record.
The program has had to discontinue serving kids ages 14 to 16 because, DeJonge said, they don't have the financial resources to meet the demand.
"Starting with COVID, we still ran a campaign," DeJonge said. "Donations were hugely down, so we had to spend the money we had in our funds. This year, we've also lost some major donors this year. So, we've never really been able to bring back our safety net, and now we're kind of running paycheck to paycheck, as you would say."
It's why Sunday's event came as a relief to the program and why they're urging people in the community to donate if they can.
"Everything that's donated locally stays locally," DeJonge said. "So, the money that's donated locally to our local campaign, the checks that are sent in, or the ones that actually go to our website—the Kent County website—stays locally in Kent County. That's the wonderful thing about Toys for Tots; what's given locally stays locally and it's a community generated organization that is run by the community. It's also supported by the community."
Hundreds of Toys for Tots collection boxes have been set up at businesses, libraries and fire stations across the region. There is also an online shopping opportunity to purchase toys for kids.
For a full list of drop off opportunities, visit our website.
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