Toys for Tots organizer and volunteer Lon Yerton thanked families and everyone who contribute to the charity, including Nina's owners Dave and Jess Shull; Owners of the Colonia Theater Rich and Todd Barnes, NY Assemblyman Joe Angelino, Mayor-elect Robert Jeffrey, Norwich Police Deputy Chief Matthew Roberts, and Tracy and Mindy Chawgo. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH – The Chenango County chapter of Toys for Tots is in a race against time this holiday season, reaching out to locals for toy donations and offering help to ensure every economically disadvantaged child receives a gift this Christmas

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is in full swing with its annual holiday toy drive underway across the nation. The campaign follows a remarkably successful 2024 season, which delivered over 25 million toys, books, and games to more than 10 million children in need.

The program last year served more than 1,200 children in Chenango County alone, according to local Toys for Tots Coordinator Terry Potter. Chenango County Toys for Tots opened applications last week, kicking off its busiest season for the program which actually runs year-round.

The organization has sights on starting toy distributions by Friday, Dec. 19.

“We’ve already received donations. The local Legion in Norwich made a very generous donation and we’ve had some other very generous donors, so we’re off to a good start,” said Potter.

Local Marine units and volunteer coordinators are now actively deploying collection boxes at businesses and community centers. These iconic collection sites serve as the primary conduit for public donations of new, unwrapped toys and books. 

Potter, alongside other local Toys for Tots volunteers, even marched in the annual Parade of Lights on Saturday, pulling a donation bin where people could offer toys and ensure that children receive gifts in time for Christmas.

Toys for Tots has also received a number of commitments from local businesses, churches, and other organizations in the area, Potter noted. It’s a meaningful start to a meaningful cause, he said.

“We’ve been pretty fortunate to have a lot of people in the community who pitch in. And there have been a lot of nonprofits in the past who have helped us in a pinch because donations haven’t come in as we expected. We’re fortunate to live in a community where people and businesses and organizations are willing to step in and help out,” he added.

While toy collections are at the heart of the mission, monetary donations are crucial too. Funds allow Toys for Tots to purchase toys when local collections fall short and to provide gifts for underserved age groups, particularly older children.

Chenango County Toys for Tots held its biggest fundraiser on Wednesday. Assisted by Nina’s Restaurant and the Colonia Theatre in Norwich, the organization raised money and toy collections while hosting a spaghetti dinner and a special showing of “The Polar Express” on the silver screen.

Organizer and volunteer Lon Yerton thanked families and everyone who contribute including business owners who support and volunteer at the event, Nina's owners Dave and Jess Shull; Owners of the Colonia Theater Rich and Todd Barnes, and the community work of Tracy and Mindy Chawgo, who use of their holiday bus to collect and transport the donated toys to the event.

He also thanked local officials for volunteering, including NY Assemblyman Joe Angelino, Mayor-elect Robert Jeffrey, and Norwich Police Deputy Chief Matthew Roberts, who prepared food and served children at the event.

The Toys for Tots operation relies heavily on local community support. Once toys are collected, volunteers – often led by active-duty and veteran Marines – transport the items to central warehouses. There, they are sorted by age and gender to match them with specific requests made through registered non-profit organizations, churches, and social welfare agencies that identify families in need.

Community members interested in participating can find official drop-off locations, host a toy drive, or make a direct monetary donation through the Chenango County chapter Toys for Tots website.

Local Toys for Tots campaigns are conducted annually in over 800 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.