“Every year we’ve always had toys coming in the door every day and this year we’re not,” said Toys for Kids’ Wanda Martin. “A lot of people don’t want to get out, so we could use quite a few more toys and we really need to focus on the teenagers.”
Toys for Kids’ Stacee Hetzel added, “Our warehouse is very empty right now. COVID went through all of us and we had to shut down for several weeks and that’s the time when we’re normally hitting sales, for instance we didn’t do any Black Friday because we were all quarantined. We are definitely behind, we haven’t been able to do the normal shopping and preparing and then people couldn’t sing up because we had to shut the doors, so now we’re playing catch up.”
Donations are always welcome, but one of the biggest days of the year for Toys for Kids is on the horizon as KOXE/KBWD and Wendlee Broadcasting will both accept toys all day Wednesday, Dec. 16.
“Wednesday will be great for the program, that day provides so much for our warehouse because people are always so awesome with giving,” Hetzel said. “Hopefully by that day we’ll have a total on how many kiddos we have, then we can look at the shelves and determine if we need more in a certain area.”
Among the items most needed are those for teenage boys and girls.
“For girls, hair stuff, curling irons, straighteners, hair dryers, I think that would be our main focus, along with LOL dolls for younger girls.”
For boys, Hetzel said the demand is greatest for, “cologne sets, anything with sports, fishing poles, duffle bags, any kind of model sets, any kind of art really, any kind of headphones, anything electronic, remote control stuff and used gaming systems and equipment.”
Those who wish to register for Toys for Kids can do so from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at Grand Starz.
“Any special requests we’ll pull and put in a room and they get first option when they request it,” Hetzel said.
Martin added, “We’re close to 400 families right now, usually the last few days are when a lot more come in.”