Donations down at Toys for Tots
"Bleak" and "disappointing" aren't words typically used to describe the holiday season, but they were the first that came to Jim Christenson's mind Tuesday night.
For five years Christenson, a Fox Valley Park District police sergeant, has led the district's Marine Toys for Tots unit. And in recent years, his group was able to distribute more than 3,000 toys to needy children in and around Aurora.
With the current economic woes, he doubts he'll reach those numbers this year.
Regardless, Santa still will be riding on the back of a fire truck in coming weeks, delivering toys to as many needy children as possible.
"I had a feeling that things were starting slow during what would usually be a busy donation week for us," Christenson said Wednesday. "So I went out last night and boy was it bleak. It was pretty disappointing to see there was not a whole lot in any of the boxes."
Christenson said he's sure the nation's economic crisis has contributed to the slow start and he may be on to something based on other units across the country.
"It's got to be the economy because sales are down 3 percent and it's hurting everyone," he said. "I don't think people have gotten cheaper, I just don't think they can afford to splurge like they used to."
Retired Marine Bill Grein, now vice president of marketing and development for the national Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in Virginia, said Christenson's group isn't the only one hurting.
"Unfortunately, we always run out of toys before we run out of kids, but we are now in our top three donating weeks of the year so we try to be optimistic," Grein said Thursday. "Our Topeka (Kan.) unit says they're doing just fine and things are good but my Fresno (Calif.) coordinator is seriously down in his number of donations."
On a nationwide scale, Grein said the foundation is getting mixed signals. Corporate sponsorship cash donations are down significantly over the past three years but corporate toy donations remain steady along with response to direct mail.
"We'll never know exactly how we did until it's over, unfortunately," he said.
As toys arrive during the next 10 days, both Grein and Christenson asked that donators consider dropping off items that children ages 7 through 14 would enjoy, including footballs, soccer balls, skateboards, games, purses and small electronics.
"Everyone that does donate throws things in for the little kids, but the 10-year-olds still kind of believe too," Christenson said. "We're hoping to have a little something for everyone."
Fox Valley drop boxes
Those who want to contribute items to the Toys for Tots program may do so by dropping off new, unwrapped toys at several Aurora, Montgomery and Geneva locations by Dec. 15. They are:
Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora; Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road, Aurora; Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail, Aurora; Orchard Valley Golf Course and Restaurant, 2411 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora; Fox Valley Park District administrative offices, 712 S. River St., Aurora; and the Fox Valley Park District police station, 1460 SE River Road, Montgomery.
Toys also may be dropped off at the Aurora Police Department, 350 N. River St.; any Aurora fire station; Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place; Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1255 N. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora; and the Kane County sheriff's office, 777 E. Fabyan Parkway, Geneva.