Toys for Tots drive helping needy children in our area

Posted: Updated:

By Ashley Paredez - email

Amarillo, TX - Every year, thousands of area children are left without toys on Christmas.

Today, local organizations kick-started an effort in hopes of turning that around.

The Toys for Tots drive in Amarillo is an annual event; they keep doing it because the need keeps growing.

Christmas is the time for giving, and many people in our area are starting early.

"I brought a doll for a little girl and some little puppy dogs for stocking stuffers. I brought a bear and a little stuffed doggie," says Laura & Mia Salas-Gonzales, donating toys.

Since many children will not be receiving toys for Christmas, the toys are coming to them.

"It's very exciting, very exciting that at least they are going to have one thing, if not anything else, that they get to open on Christmas," says Laura & Mia Salas-Gonzales, donating toys.

The Marine Corps and Hardcore Motorcycle Ministries joined together for another year of the Toys for Tots drive.

The kick-off event brought in thousands of donated toys.

Once all of the toys are received, they will be delivered to the reserve center.

They will then be sorted out so that they can be ready in time for Christmas.

"There's nothing that compares to Christmas Eve and watching those little kids' faces. They usually come to the door and we hand them their toys. Wow, it means so much to us, it is one of the highlights of the year for us," says Gary Burd, Senior Pastor at Christian Heritage Church.

The goal of the event is not just to provide children with toys, but to provide them with a better life.

"All we are trying to do is just put a smile on their face and make their year a little bit faster, start the new year on a new foot and just keep on going. Make that one year that might make a difference in shaping how they are going to become, what they are going to become whenever they're older," says Sgt. Robert Guadarrama, Toys for Tots coordinator, Marine Corps.

There is still time for those wanting to donate or sign up children who need toys for Christmas.

You can visit toysfortots.org.

Today's Local News HeadlinesToday's Local NewsMore>>
Dozens get dirty in Amarillo Mud Run for Snack Pak 4 Kids
Dozens get dirty in Amarillo Mud Run for Snack Pak 4 Kids
Raising money to better the lives of children in our area was also the goal of Saturday morning's Mud Run out at Maxwell's Pumpkin Farm south of Amarillo.
Raising money to better the lives of children in our area was also the goal of Saturday morning's Mud Run out at Maxwell's Pumpkin Farm south of Amarillo.
Moore County rollover leaves Dumas man dead
Moore County rollover leaves Dumas man dead
A rollover accident in Moore County Friday left one Dumas man dead Friday night.
A rollover accident in Moore County Friday left one Dumas man dead Friday night.
Federal program seeks to protect both land and landowners
Federal program seeks to protect both land and landowners
Amarillo, TX - The status of the lesser prairie chicken could affect landowners in our area.
Amarillo, TX - The status of the lesser prairie chicken could affect landowners in our area.
Veteran's resumes keeping them from jobs
Veteran's resumes keeping them from jobs
Amarillo, Texas - Many veterans still struggle to find jobs. We're told by employers, many veterans are more than qualified for job positions they are applying for.
Amarillo, Texas - Many veterans still struggle to find jobs. We're told by employers, many veterans are more than qualified for job positions they are applying for.
More local women with breast cancer
More local women with breast cancer
Free screenings are saving the lives of many area women. Dozens who couldn't afford mammograms are having breast cancer detected early.
Free screenings are saving the lives of many area women. Dozens who couldn't afford mammograms are having breast cancer detected early.
Shamrock man pleaded guilty to possessing two machine guns
Shamrock man pleaded guilty to possessing two machine guns
A Shamrock man has pleaded guilty to possessing two machine guns after being injured while mixing explosives in his trailer home last year.
A Shamrock man has pleaded guilty to possessing two machine guns after being injured while mixing explosives in his trailer home last year.
Granbury tornadoes take out Habitat for Humanity neighborhood
Granbury tornadoes take out Habitat for Humanity neighborhood
The Hood County Habitat for Humanity also took quite a hit Wednesday night after the tornadoes in Granbury destroyed 58 of it's 61 Habitat homes.
The Hood County Habitat for Humanity also took quite a hit Wednesday night after the tornadoes in Granbury destroyed 58 of it's 61 Habitat homes.
Tornadoes level homes in Okla., 1 dead
Tornadoes level homes in Okla., 1 dead
Authorities say tornadoes have touched down in Wichita, Kan., and a suburb of Oklahoma City but there are no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.
Tornadoes ravaged portions of central Oklahoma on Sunday, reducing portions of a mobile home park to rubble and killing a 79-year-old man whose body was found out in the open.
Allowing gay boy scouts controversy
Allowing gay boy scouts controversy
Former Boy Scouts are biking hundreds of miles supporting gays to be allowed in the program. The father and son biking 18 hundred miles from Idaho to Irving, Texas made a stop in Amarillo.
Former Boy Scouts are biking hundreds of miles supporting gays to be allowed in the program. The father and son biking 18 hundred miles from Idaho to Irving, Texas made a stop in Amarillo.
Testing for the breast cancer gene
Testing for the breast cancer gene
Amarillo, Texas - Genetic testing for breast cancer has been making headlines. Early detection is the best way to prevent breast cancer.
Amarillo, Texas - Genetic testing for breast cancer has been making headlines. Early detection is the best way to prevent breast cancer.

CommunityMore>>
Homer's Backyard Ball raises money for children's charities
Homer's Backyard Ball raises money for children's charities
The area's largest outdoor Texas music festival and charity event kicked off Saturday morning in Amarillo, and the party was still going on late Saturday night.
The area's largest outdoor Texas music festival and charity event kicked off Saturday morning in Amarillo, and the party was still going on late Saturday night.
Dozens get dirty in Amarillo Mud Run for Snack Pak 4 Kids
Dozens get dirty in Amarillo Mud Run for Snack Pak 4 Kids
Raising money to better the lives of children in our area was also the goal of Saturday morning's Mud Run out at Maxwell's Pumpkin Farm south of Amarillo.
Raising money to better the lives of children in our area was also the goal of Saturday morning's Mud Run out at Maxwell's Pumpkin Farm south of Amarillo.
Veteran's resumes keeping them from jobs
Veteran's resumes keeping them from jobs
Amarillo, Texas - Many veterans still struggle to find jobs. We're told by employers, many veterans are more than qualified for job positions they are applying for.
Amarillo, Texas - Many veterans still struggle to find jobs. We're told by employers, many veterans are more than qualified for job positions they are applying for.
Run for the Wall
Run for the Wall
Amarillo, TX - Run for the Wall 2013 the Recon Route will be stopping in Amarillo Friday.
Amarillo, TX - Run for the Wall 2013 the Recon Route will be stopping in Amarillo Friday.
Homer's Backyard Ball helping more charities
Homer's Backyard Ball helping more charities
Amarillo, TX - Homer's Backyard Ball has helped hundreds of area children and now they've extending their services to help hundreds more.
Amarillo, TX - Homer's Backyard Ball has helped hundreds of area children and now they've extending their services to help hundreds more.
Allowing gay boy scouts controversy
Allowing gay boy scouts controversy
Former Boy Scouts are biking hundreds of miles supporting gays to be allowed in the program. The father and son biking 18 hundred miles from Idaho to Irving, Texas made a stop in Amarillo.
Former Boy Scouts are biking hundreds of miles supporting gays to be allowed in the program. The father and son biking 18 hundred miles from Idaho to Irving, Texas made a stop in Amarillo.
How you can help North Texas tornado victims
How you can help North Texas tornado victims
NORTH TEXAS - Granbury officials say they're received enough clothing, perishable food, and water supplies to supply over 1300 people for weeks, much more than have been displaced.
NORTH TEXAS - Granbury officials say they're received enough clothing, perishable food, and water supplies to supply over 1300 people for weeks, much more than have been displaced.
Area cyclists honor lives lost to motorists in Ride of Silence
Area cyclists honor lives lost to motorists in Ride of Silence
Wednesday evening, hundreds of bicyclists rode in the Amarillo Ride of Silence where all that was heard was the sound of spinning spokes and muffled cries.
Wednesday evening, hundreds of bicyclists rode in the Amarillo Ride of Silence where all that was heard was the sound of spinning spokes and muffled cries.
Cristy Gooding Pays It Forward
Cristy Gooding Pays It Forward
In this week's Pay It Forward, Allan Gwyn and the Pay It Forward crew found a playmaker named Cristy Gooding.
In this week's Pay It Forward, Allan Gwyn and the Pay It Forward crew found a playmaker named Cristy Gooding.
Compare college TX
Compare college TX
The Texas higher education college board is debuting a new tool.
The Texas higher education college board is debuting a new tool.

Toys for Tots drive helping needy children in our area - KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports

Toys for Tots drive helping needy children in our area

Today's Local News HeadlinesToday's Local NewsMore>>

CommunityMore>>