SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) – Thousands of toy donations are helping give hundreds of Lane County families a hand up this weekend through the Toys for Tots toy giveaway.
Local marines and more than 200 volunteers handed out free toys on Saturday, December 15th, 2012 at the annual giveaway. This year, crews set up at Maple Elementary School in Springfield.
Local organizers estimate they collected around 40,000 new toys this year.
For each kid, most families get two large toys, some books, Play-Doh, a stuffed animal and a board game.
For the families getting toys, many say it's helping save their Christmas.
"I have an eight year old little girl and I have a nine year old little boy and I can't just say thank you enough,” said Chris Meyers of Springfield.
“It's not for us, it's for these people that come through the line, it's for the kids to have a great Christmas, everybody deserves hope, and that's what it's all about, hope,” said Staff Sergeant Thadd Pooler of the U.S. Marine Corps. Pooler is the lead organizers for this year’s drive.
Toys for Tots continues at Maple Elementary in Springfield on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oakridge will give out its toys Saturday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the city’s Fire Department. Cottage Grove has its toy giveaway from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cottage Grove Armory.
Leftover toys will be given out to local non-profits.
