| YorkieMom55 | 12-03-2007 06:39 PM |
Here in Muskegon County, MI, all of the "Toys-For-Tots" that are collected are taken to a central distribution point. Parents contact the local organizations and register for toy pickup. They list how many children, what age & boy or girl. On the weekend of the 15th the local missions & charities come in at their designated time and pick up toys for their lists. We help with the Mission where Chuck works. We'll have a card that says ex:"Boy age 6-8" & how many toys we need for that group. The toys are all sorted by: boy/girl & age. We just go along with large bags and fill them up. Then we have a U-Haul rented & take the bags of toys to our Mission's distribution point. The toys are re-sorted, placed on long tables & during the next week the people that have registered come at their appointed times and choose presents for their kids. They also have wrapping stations set up so the presents can leave wrapped if they want to. We also have toys come in from our local hospital "Angel Tree", hospital departments (surgical always gives bicycles) & other organizations that collect for the kids. It's alot of work on the distribution end of it, but it's really worth it....for the kids. The need is especially great this year, there's a record number of families qualifying for distribution. We donated for so many years...it's good to finally see the distribution end of it. | 