Toys for Tots, Angel Tree suffering from lack of donations

More than 100 seniors and children from 500 families could spend Christmas without presents, unless donations pick up soon.

Joyce Buckingham, executive director of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, which distributes the toys, said donations are seriously down this year from 2006, when 700 families were assisted.

This year, Toys for Tots has more than 800 children in Carson City, Storey and Lyon counties in need of toys this holiday season.

"There will be no toys for Lyon County, Storey County or Douglas County," she said. "We're short toys for 500 families. We tell people to call back when we get more toys."

She said they have taken requests for toys from 241 families so far, and there aren't enough toys to even take care of those.

The fire at The Connected Church of the Nazarene, where toys were stored is part of the cause.

"The toys at the church were burned or smoke damaged," she said. "We have families that are going to be without Christmas this year."

She said she didn't think the public realized how short they were.

"This is just an outcry to the community," she said. "This is a dire situation and this is the first time we have been in this situation."

Molly Cady, in the marketing department at Slotworld, which serves as a drop-off location for Toys for Tots and organizes their own Angel Tree Program, said they have seen a tremendous drop in donations.

The casino in East Carson City adopts the residents of the Mountain View Convalescent Center every year. Each of the residents writes a wish for the holidays and then casino patrons can adopt a senior.

"We had 307 seniors last year and had absolutely no problem adopting them out. This year we had 127 and there are still about 100 of them waiting to be adopted," Cady said.

Slotworld also serves as a drop-off location for the Toys for Tots program, which Cady said has also seen fewer donations.

"We've only had one pick up so far, usually by this time we've had four or five," she said.

Buckingham said folks who can donate toys should drop them off at Carson City Toyota, Harley Davidson, Les Schwab Tire (both locations), United Blood Services, Wal-Mart (both locations), Applebees, Carson Lanes Bowling Center, Casino Fandango, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City Library, Gold Dust West, Slotworld, First American Title, Grocery Outlet and The Timbers.

In addition to toys, financial donations are welcome. To donate money, time or toys, call Brandy White at 297-1810.

Ron White Family Resource Center is the point of contact for Toys for Tots. People who need toys or know someone who does can call the center at 884-2269.

The deadline to adopt a senior from the Angel Tree at Slotworld is Dec. 21.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 881-7351.