As the countdown to Christmas whittles down to a few weeks, a toy collection program supported by the village of Norridge is experiencing an unusual shortage, leaving organizers of the program — the Toys for Tots campaign — scrambling to get the community to bring in toys for needy families.
Norridge Police Sgt. Brian Loughran said the barrels set up in the lobbies of village hall and the police department buildings on Olcott Avenue are usually full by this time of year, but a lack of donations has prompted village officials to extend the donation period by an extra week, through Dec. 16.
“For at least the last 20 years, we’ve set up barrels in village hall and the police department and usually by this time we’ve had to empty the bins at least once because they fill up, but we don’t have many yet this year,” Loughran said. “Extending it another week still gives us enough time to get the toys to the kids in time before Christmas.”
Toys for Tots is a program the United States Marine Corps Reserve started in 1947 to collect new, unwrapped toys during the holiday season, according to www.toysfortots.org. The toys are distributed to needy families in communities all over the United States.
Police departments and municipalities each year collaborate with the organization for an annual campaign to collect toys for local children. The shortage of donations this year could be due to a number of factors, but Loughran speculated that people might not know the village is participating in the campaign.
“I don’t think people realize the boxes are there,” he said. “The point is that every kid deserves a toy on Christmas, even kids that aren’t on someone’s gift list.”
Toys can be dropped off at village hall, 4000 N. Olcott Ave., during business hours, or in the lobby of the police station next door.
Toys for Tots donation boxes are also set up in Harwood Heights at village hall and the police department, 7300 W. Wilson Ave. The police department offers free pick-up service for residents who can’t drop off donations. To arrange pick-up service, call 708-867-4353.
Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.