NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — With Christmas just days away, Toys for Tots is more than 7-thousand toys short of its goal. And that means, not enough toys to supply the nearly 140 charities in the New Orleans -area that distribute those toys.
“It’s something very heartwarming about helping families in our own community,” says Toys for Tots Community Outreach Coordinator Jessica Viva.
“The rewarding feeling is knowing that when Christmas day arrives, there will be children around the city that have something waiting for them under the tree,” says Viva.
In past years, they have been successful. Last year, the organization gave out more than 80,000 toys, exceeding its goal.
This year, the group is afraid that far fewer children will have a toy.
“New Orleans is really good about showing up for each other when we need it the most. I think this is an opportunity for us as a community for us to get together as a community and show them what we got,” says Viva.
Toys for Tots asks for new, unwrapped toys, for children of all ages.
Donation drop-offs can be found easily.
“What a person can do if they’d like is Google the Toys for Tots campaign, it’ll be the very first search result. There, they’ll be able to look at a map of their community and find the local drop site,” says Viva.
Donations can also be dropped off at the Toys for Tots warehouse located at 2940 Royal St.
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