The intrepid volunteers of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Indian River County 2020 Campaign have been busier than usual this holiday season, nomadically moving their entire “warehouse/office/distribution center” within a tight, hectic timeframe, and this year also adjusting for COVID.
But you’d never know it as, under the direction of Toys for Tots coordinators Allison McGraw and Star Knudson, they efficiently receive, process and distribute donations with cheerful, holiday aplomb and a whole lot of love.
McGraw and Knudson – also volunteers, as T4T has zero paid staff – have high praise for fellow volunteers and the “amazing, generous community.” They expressed how “awesome” everyone has been, listing Olivia’s Restaurant and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, among others, for their steadfast support.
Christmas 2020, says Knudson, marks the 20th year the local Toys for Tots has been “helping give the joy of Christmas to less-fortunate children in Indian River County.” According to their website, last year they distributed 36,592 toys and supported 5,538 children.
This year everyone (even Santa, for goodness sake) has had to make numerous adjustments because of the pandemic. Volunteers all wear masks, and instead of families signing their children up at one of several merry and bright locations throughout the community, applications needed to be made online.
Additionally, rather than have volunteers get their reindeer groove on to distribute the goodies, parents will be assigned specific pick-up dates and locations. As a result, volunteers are going above and beyond to keep the Toys for Tots motto in their minds and hearts: “Every child deserves a Christmas.”
The original nonprofit organization began in 1947, the brainchild of Marine Corps Reserve Maj. Bill Hendricks, whose wife Diane had a few handcrafted dolls she wanted him to deliver to an agency supporting children in need.
So why the nomadic annual move? Knudson explained that they have never had a permanent home. Through the generosity of businesses such as the Indian River Mall, Glendale Properties, Indian River County and others, Toys for Tots has been able to set up a temporary headquarters with a makeshift office and space to stash extra donations, supplies and a small refrigerator.
Their own Christmas letter will read something like: “Dear Santa, we (desperately) need our own permanent home, preferably air-conditioned, about 5,000 square feet, with office space, phone hook-up, room to store and distribute toys. PS: We’ve been good. PSS: Don’t worry about that chimney thing.”
Local T4T donations and distributions are currently underway. Donations of new, unwrapped toys (no toy weapons, food, candy or clothing) can be dropped off at their current location in the Indian River Mall or at various marked locations around town.
For more information, call 772-882-6185 or visit vero-beach-fl.toysfortots.org.
Photos by: Kaila Jones
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