Monroe County Toys for Tots donations down this year

The Monroe County Toys for Tots has collected about one-third of the donations it has received in previous years.

During Christmastime, Monroe County Toys for Tots helps give presents to about 1,200 children.

“My goal is to make sure every child has something to open on Christmas Day,” said Bob Sutter, organizer of Monroe County Toys for Tots. “There’s a lot of children that aren’t going to do that if we don’t get our mission done.”

Sutter said the program is in desperate need of toys this year because the auction on Dec. 1 didn’t do well. The auction normally raises $15,000 but raised $6,000 this year.

“There’s a lot of families that, you know, Christmas is more of a burden than it is a celebration,” Toys for Tots volunteer Steve Baker said. “We try to take some of that burden off the parents or the caregivers of the children to help them to have a brighter Christmas.”

Toys for Tots will have its first giveaway Dec. 14 and will have another giveaway Dec. 21 if it doesn’t have enough toys to take care of everyone during the first giveaway.

“Monroe County is a very generous community, and I think that in the long run I honestly believe we will make it,” Sutter said. “If the community comes together like it normally does, I think that we will be all right, and we’re just praying that it does.”

Baker said the way the donations have been coming is probably a reflection of the economy.

“Some of the factories around this area, I think they’re laying off more,” Baker said. “I know GE has laid off several people, cutbacks even at the hospital staff, government agencies are cutting back on their people, and it’s a reflection of the way people are giving or can give.”

— Alli Friedman