Toys for Tots distributes toys for 285 families in northeast Missouri

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Toys for Tots of Northeast Missouri provided toys for 600 children on Tuesday during Distribution Day in Hannibal at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center.

About 285 low-income families qualified for Toys for Tots assistance in Marion, Ralls, Pike, Shelby, Monroe and Lewis Counties.  During the distribution, Salvation Army also provide food baskets.  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. Each child received five toys, along with stocking stuffers and books.

Volunteers packaged the gifts for each family and distributed them through a drive-through system at the recreation center. 

“Although a national event, each Toys for Tots campaign is local.  Donations, both financial and toys, stay local and support local children,” said Stephanie Himmel, director of Community Outreach Initiatives at Douglass Community Services.  “We could not do this project without the support of our volunteers and donors.”

Coin cans and donation boxes were in Bowling Green, Canton, Center, Eolia, Ewing, Hannibal, LaGrange, Lewistown, Louisiana, Monroe City, New London, Palmyra, Perry, Shelbina and West Quincy. Toys also were collected along the route during the Hannibal Jaycees Christmas parade on Dec. 4.