'Toys for Tots' provides Christmas cheer far and near
HILLSDALE COUNTY — This year in Hillsdale County, Toys for Tots, the annual toy drive for families in need, is already bigger than ever.
“In our first two days of sign-ups, our numbers were up 18% over what we did last year in our first two days,” said Pam Bognar, the local coordinator for Toys for Tots.
Toys for Tots helps provide Christmas gifts for children aged 0-16 and there are over 50 drop-off sites throughout Hillsdale County where community members can drop off brand-new and unwrapped donations.
“We’ve put out boxes all over the county,” Bognar said. “All donations stay in Hillsdale County. It helps our families right here and people should know that they are helping the people in their community, maybe even their neighbors, that they do not realize are struggling.”
Organizations and businesses throughout the county also partner with Toys for Tots to raise money and toys.
“The college does collections at games, Bognar said. “We also have several fire departments that will partner with the Dollar General in their town and collect toys.”
The Hillsdale Township Fire Department is one of the ones participating.
“Come see us on Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dollar General next to Family Farm and Home in Hillsdale,” a statement from it said.
There are four more days that families can stop by the Hillsdale Assembly of God Church to sign up for toy distribution.
“We do not ask for any income guidelines,” Bognar said. “They just have to bring photo ID for all the adults in the home showing the current address and birth certificates for each child.”
Bognar said they have seen a large increase in the families signing up in the last few years.
“Last year, our numbers were up 30%,” she said. “So, I kind of figured our numbers would be up again this year, especially because of the economy.”
Families are required to pre-register or they won’t be able to receive donations. Once they are registered, they will receive a date they can come back in.
“They do the shopping,” Bognar said. “The children get to come in and pick out the toys themselves.”
Bognar said she hopes that donations will also be up to meet the increase in need.
“Our community is such a giving community,” she said. “Every year, I worry. My kids remind me that I worry every year and it always works out because this community gives. So, I have faith in our community, because they always come through.”
Bognar said that she already had to go empty a few boxes because they were full.
Last year was the first year that Hillsdale Toys for Tots began providing donations to 16-year-olds.
“With the community support, we felt we would been able to cover the 16-year-olds as well,” Bognar said.
She encouraged the community to give not just toys, but also items that the older children would enjoy like toolkits, art supplies, beauty products, etc.
“That’s usually our hardest group to get gifts for,” Bognar said. “We also try to gift each family one puzzle and one game to encourage family time, so we could also use those.”
Toys for Tots also accepts cash donations, which allows them to fill in some gaps they might have in the donations.
Bognar said Toys for Tots wouldn’t be possible without the support of the local community.
“I’m very grateful to our community,” she said. “It blows me away every year.”
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The four remaining sign-up days are Nov. 16, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Nov. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Nov. 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Hillsdale Assembly of God Church.
At those times, individuals and families can also sign up for food vouchers through The Salvation Army.
Hillsdale Assembly of God Church is at 4075 Beck Road, Jonesville.
— Elyse Apel is a correspondent for The Hillsdale Daily News. She can be reached by email at ehawkins@hillsdale.edu.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: 'Toys for Tots' provides Christmas cheer far and near
