Toys for Tots: Hundreds of kids still need help for Christmas

This December Toys for Tots plans on helping close to 3,000 kids just in Bannock County. but says there could be as many as 500 children without Christmas gifts if the organization doesn’t get a hold of more toys.

Thursday night volunteers helped pick out presents for hundreds of families in east Idaho.

They have tables packed with toys and boxes bursting with teddy bears, but organizers said it runs out quick.

“We are trying to get everything out before christmas, getting our last push done, so we have a lot of applications to fill out tonight and tomorrow. And as you can see, we’re running a little low on toys,” Toys for Tots Coordinator Phillip Hartman said.

Locals donate their times, filling bag after bag with all the Christmas joy a family might need.

Santa showed up to show some appreciation for the volunteers helping him to do his job.

Old saint nick may have hundreds of years under his belt of picking toys for kids, but 13-year-old Izabelle Sickora led Santa around the temporary toy shop choosing what toys would go to which kids.

She said it’s something special to help provide a happy Christmas morning to kids her own age who otherwise might just wake up to nothing.

“It feels good. it’s easier to pick out things where it’s the same age and gender. So it’s easier to get things, and it feels better that the girl has things you wish you could have,” Izabelle said.

Hartman said those looking to help donate toys in east Idaho can contact him at 242-8948.