Three weeks ago, donations were not looking good for Dane County’s Toys for Tots program.
The increase in need from a poor economy this year — combined with a decline in donations — made the campaign’s goal of 50,000 toys appear unattainable.
Last week, however, Toys for Tots saw a significant influx of monetary and toy donations in the nick of time for last Friday’s deadline.
As of Friday, Toys for Tots received $6,000 in monetary donations and more than 8,000 toys between Thursday and Friday, said Staff Sergeant Justin Bradley, who is the Dane County Toys for Tots coordinator. He attributed the sudden spike in donations to the program’s successful local media blitz.
However, Toys for Tots still fell 20,000 gifts short of its overall goal as of its Friday deadline, Bradley said.
Ruth Ann Schoer, development director of the Dane County Salvation Army, encouraged those still interested in donating to bring toys to the organization’s 630 East Washington Ave. location or directly to the Alliant Energy Center, where the toys will be distributed to participating families Dec. 16 to Dec. 18.
With 7,831 children signed up to receive gifts, Toys for Tots has seen a sharp increase in registrants this year, up from 6,400 in 2008.
Likewise, the Adopt-A-Mom program, in which mothers receive $25 gift cards to various big box stores, has seen an increase in participants. According to Schoer, there are three times as many women participating this year compared to 2008, leaving the Salvation Army short on gift cards to distribute.
In addition to toys, families will receive Hy-Vee and Cub’s grocery store gift cards through the Salvation Army’s food assistance program. This year, the Salvation Army anticipates about 3,000 families requesting their services.
On a smaller scale, the Goodman Community Center is hosting its own Holiday Gift Program, through which community members and businesses sponsor children in the center’s youth programs. Younger children will receive $30 gifts according to their wish list, while middle and high school-aged students will receive gift cards.
Despite early concerns that giving might not meet the increased need this year, Childcare Programs Administrative Assistant Tanya Martinez-Knauer said community members filled in the gap.
In all, the Goodman Holiday Gift program will provide presents for 300 children, half of whom are teens.
The American Red Cross Badger Chapter is hosting an additional campaign to assist families in need. The chapter has set a $200,000 goal for its Holiday Fund Drive in order to provide emergency food and water, shelter, blankets, clothing and counseling for disaster victims.
According to Director of Development Nicole Hoffmann, a clear trend has emerged this year: while the number of returning donors has decreased, the average monetary gift is increasing in amount. However, a gap between donations and need remains, Hoffmann said.
“We need financial assistance for us to be there in the time of need for our neighbors,” Hoffmann said. “The trend is showing that we may not get there, but we’re hopeful that we will.”
