Toys for Tots donations coming in more slowly this year
The toys that piled up under the Christmas tree Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Brick House in Butler weren’t put there by Santa Claus, but by community members for the Toys for Tots donation drive.
The program each year receives a large number of toys and money for distribution.
About 2,500 children this year will benefit from the program, which collects over the course of the year.
Machell Krumpe, of Karns City, has been coordinating Toys for Tots in Butler County for years. She said Thursday the county program has received fewer donations this year, so it is in need of more before distribution next week.
“There are more kids signing up and more organizations signing up to help their kids,” Krumpe said.
The donation drive at the Brick House is organized by Chuck Swidzinski, of Berkshire Hathaway, and his team, and Swidzinski said this was the 12th year his team has hosted the event. Swidzinski said it attracts hundreds of people for the admission price of a donation, or donations, to the Butler County Toys for Tots program, which has helped put more toys into the hands of children who may otherwise have no gifts for Christmas.
The event has continued, Swidzinski said, because of the continued need for parents to get toys for their children.
Marine Corps veteran and Butler Township Commissioner Sam Zurzolo brought Toys for Tots to the region decades ago and has stayed involved in the local program over the years. For the past week, he has been gathering monetary donations from organizations, including the Butler County Central Labor Council, the American Legion and Baglier Buick.
Zurzolo also said donations have been coming in slower this year.
“We need everything we can, because we’re short on toys,” Zurzolo said. “Money is tight for everyone.”
Although the distribution of the toys will take place Monday through Friday next week, Krumpe said Toys for Tots can still take monetary donations, or donations of new toys through next week. She said donations made online at butler-pa.toysfortots.org get money or toys directly to the agency in Butler County, but people can also help next week by staffing the distribution center at the Clearview Mall.
“You can just show up,” Krumpe said of volunteering next week.
“You can donate online and it goes directly to Butler County,” she added about the Toys for Tots website.
