Toys for Tots of Northeast Missouri will provide toys for more than 1,550 children this holiday season; Today, Dec. 10 and tomorrow is Distribution Day in Hannibal at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center.
Managerial support for Toys for Tots locally is provided by Douglass Community Services and Hannibal Parks & Recreation. The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community.
About 553 low-income families qualified for Toys for Tots assistance in Marion, Ralls, Pike, Shelby, Monroe and Lewis Counties. During the distribution, Salvation Army also provides food baskets to each family.
Toys for Tots Coordinator Stephanie Cooper said the amount of children needing toys this year is near record levels. She said people have been very generous in giving toys to spread joy and cheer to children all year long.