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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Make a child happy by donating to Toys for Tots

Sherry Ramsey Correspondent

POST FALLS – You see the boxes at stores around town – huge bins where people drop off Toys for Tots. Have you ever dropped anything in that box?

For many families, Christmastime is a worry. They can barely cover their monthly bills, let alone save enough to buy gifts for their children. Perhaps when you’re out shopping this year, you’ll buy an extra toy or book to drop in the bin as you leave the store. Many children have made it a tradition to save enough money, go to the store and choose a gift for a child less fortunate, then leave it in the donation box. It gives them a great feeling of giving, and isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

“We gave out 15,450 toys last year to 2,258 children,” said Mike Milligan, Toys for Tots coordinator for Kootenai County. “That’s over six toys per child. The big cities only give out two toys per kid, one major toy and one stocking stuffer. That shows the generosity of the people in Kootenai County; they support Toys for Tots wonderfully.”

Toys for Tots has collected toys in Kootenai County for the past 10 years. They target low-income family children from birth to 12. Typically people give toys for the 4 to 9 age group because they’re the easiest to buy for. But the very young children, 2 and under, get missed and Milligan suggests rattles, teething rings, squishy books, blocks, trucks and other things from the baby aisle. Ten- to 12-year-olds also get skipped because most people don’t know what to get kids that age. Milligan suggests hair-care products and straightening irons, skateboards, or personal CD players. Batteries might be a nice thing to throw in if you donate something that takes them.

“If you think of your own kids or grandkids and try to imagine what they might like, that’s the kind of thing we’re looking for,” said Milligan.

One thing they get an overabundance of each year is stuffed animals. While some are needed, they suggest books for all ages of children might be a nice change of pace.

Many people are eligible for the Toys for Tots program, but don’t realize it. Milligan encourages people who think they may qualify to fill out an application. One qualified custodial parent may apply at the Children and Family Services building at 1050 Ironwood Drive. A volunteer from the Pappy Boyington Detachment #966, Marine Corps League and the Auxiliary, will be in the lobby to hand out request forms.

Hours of operation will be noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ending Dec. 20. The forms need to be filled out at the time they are handed out. Parents will be notified by phone when the toys are ready to be picked up. Toys can be picked up at the National Guard Armory at 5453 Seltice Way in Post Falls.

“When a parent comes in and they walk out with a bag of toys that they can barely lift, many of them are in tears and can’t even speak,” said Milligan. “They’re so choked up with emotion that your heart just goes out to them. The thrust of the whole thing is helping needy children, and that’s what we want to do – get to as many kids as we can that would otherwise not have a merry Christmas. We want them to have a great Christmas.”