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Now that the holiday shopping season’s major weekend has passed the area by. It might be a good idea to take an inventory of all the toys bought and decide to donate one or two to a great cause. Over the next couple of weeks will be the region’s last chance to participate in Toys for Tots. An annual charitable event that helps to make sure kids in the western upper peninsula have a chance to have some joy on Christmas.
“It was about 3,800 toys. So that was a lot. And we cover a lot of ground. And so we don’t just look at toys. We look for tiny stocking stuffers. And then we also consider books too. This is a great time to work on family literacy, and be able to sit down together. So that is another one of those items we want to make sure we are collecting.” – Rodney Loonsfoot, Toys-4-Tots Coordinator, Toys-4-Tots Western Upper Peninsula
Since October 1st Toys for Tots coordinator Rodney Loonsfoot has been one of the hardest-working elves. He’s dropped off drop-off boxes to a few locations throughout the five counties, helped to collect toys already, and planned events with different groups to set up a Toys for Tots booth. But he’s not alone, and he says there are plenty of places he and the other elves could use a hand.
“The list right now tells me we’ve got 561 kids in our counties. And then another 400 in Gogebic County. So we are already at close to 1,000 kids. And last year we served 1,200 children, and that was without Gogebic County. So we will very easily blow right past 1,000. And that’s where that joy from the donations comes into play. Being able to share a toy, and child will get that, and be able to have something to be excited about at Christmas time just like we used to.” – Rodney Loonsfoot, Toys-4-Tots Coordinator, Toys-4-Tots Western Upper Peninsula
Toys for Tots in years past has delivered Christmas joy to 1,200 kids annually. Loonsfoot added that the group has seen an increased need this year, and hopes more people in the community can find a way to get involved. Whether through donating a toy or volunteering at a delivery site.
Find the nearest Toys-For-Tots donation site to you here.
Request a toy for a child here.
Toys-For-Tots does work with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services as well as a handful of other local groups to cross reference lists of kids that will benefit from Toys-For-Tots. Loonsfoot does ask that those requesting a toy, please submit a request within the next week. Volunteers will then cross reference lists and requests to make sure that each child has an opportunity to receive a gift.
Make a monetary donation here.
During Toys-For-Tots, volunteers will also purchase new toys and gifts for kids in the Western Upper Peninsula, for individuals that make a monetary donation. Loonsfoot says that for every dollar donated, 0.97 cents will stay in the local area. The national organization takes a small percentage to operate and coordinate Toys-For-Tots training and materials for local organizaers. And in the Western Upper Peninsula volunteers will typically try to use donations to purchase toys at small businesses in the region.
Toys-For-Tots will also be involved with the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey games against Bowling Green University and Northern Michigan University at the Teddy Bear Toss during intermission. The first 200 attendees to eah game will get to participate in the between periods game. Also stop by their table display to learn more about how to get involved with Toys-For-Tots in 2023.
Learn more about Toys-For-Tots in the Western Upper Peninsula here.
Please contact Rodney Loonsfoot for more details, questions, or to learn how to get involved; 906-201-0064 baraga.mi@toysfortots.org
