Toys for Tots donations down

NAHANT-Donations to Toys for Tots are down by almost 75 percent nationally and locally, according to local firefighters.The Nahant Firefighters Association Local #2718 has been participating in the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program for at least a decade, and are concerned that this year donations are way down.Firefighter Kevin Howard said he is concerned the firefighters won’t be able to meet the need locally.?We have a mere fraction of what we usually get,” he said. “We have a couple of local families we’re trying to take care of this holiday season and the rest will go to Toys for Tots. We are also accepting new winter clothes for children 10 and under.”According to Toys For Tots, the projected need for 2007 is expected to surpass the 19 million toys distributed in 2006.Howard said he doesn’t know why donations are down this year, but without the support of the public nationally Toys for Tots could experience a shortage of millions of toys, impacting its ultimate goal to deliver hope and joy to the more than 13 million children living in poverty in the United States.New unwrapped toys and new clothing for children may be dropped off between now and Dec. 22 at the Nahant Fire Department, 67 Flash Road. The firefighters will also have a truck in the Nahant Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 22 that toys may be deposited in.The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program started in 1947 when a Marine recruiter in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. The Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns each year since.During the 2006 Toys for Tots campaign more than 19 million toys were distributed to 7.6 million needy children. Over 59 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 370 million toys.