Cook County Toys for Tots donations down this year

The Chicago and Cook County chapter of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's annual Toys for Tots Program is facing a major toy shortage.

With an increase in needy families and a decrease in donations, so far this season Toys for Tots has collected about 30,000 toys, far fewer than the 289,500 collected in 2013, said Coordinator Sgt. Jesus Castaneda.

Additionally, last year the group was able to use monetary donations to buy another 200,000 toys for children in the area, Castaneda said. With nearly a half million toys, the group donated toys to 310,000 children in Chicago and Cook County in 2013, he said.

Without an influx of toys soon, the group will have a hard time responding to the growing number of requests it has gotten from area nonprofits.

The group has received applications from 600 nonprofits in Chicago and the suburbs. Of those, they have been able to completely fulfill only 95 requests so far, Castaneda said.

"We are definitely down, but we have more people requesting toys this year also," he said. "Donations are down and the need is up so it's a problem on both fronts."

Collections are ongoing at several locations around the suburbs until Dec. 19. A full list of collection locations can be found at http://chicago-il.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/donate-toys. aspx. The group needs any unwrapped toys for children between ages 0 and 13, but there is a notable lack of girl-specific toys this year.

"It's important for people to donate so they can give some of the less fortunate children of Chicago and Cook County a Christmas," Castaneda said. "I'm not sure if people know what it is to not have a Christmas, but not everybody has the opportunity for a normal Christmas."

Castaneda said that growing up on the South side of Chicago, his family was one of many that benefited from Toys for Tots when he was a child.

"Now to put a smile on the face of less fortunate kids is just so worth it," he said.

When Greg Padovani, an Arlington Heights resident and chairman of the veterans committee, heard about the shortage he jumped into action. In the past few days, he said, he has been working with local employers and the Chamber of Commerce to try to drum up donations.

He also sent out an urgent appeal to his list of more than 4,500 veterans and supporters around the area.

Although Toys for Tots is a nationwide program, officials said the need is great specifically in Chicago and the suburbs.

"Throughout suburban Cook County and especially in the Northwest suburbs there are plenty of families and children that need these toys," Padovani said. "I can't imagine children on Christmas without toys. For me, if there's something we can do about it, then we're going to."