A SusanvilleStuff PhotoFeature
by Marshel and Jeremy Couso
If you late season Christmas shoppers are wondering why shelves in toy sections of local stores are empty, here’s why. The folks at Lassen County Toys for Tots have spent the week in nearly every store in town, checking off a huge list of items to get ready for this year’s event. As they do every year, the Lassen County Search and Rescue team has spent countless hours collecting donations, making sure those children in need have a magical Christmas. With applications still arriving, just under the deadline, there are already more than 400 children who will benefit from one of this county’s longest running, deeply worthwhile programs for children.
According to Terrie Trussell-Ginder, who heads the Toys for Tots program with the help of the Lassen County Search and Rescue team, organizing the event begins in September when the group mails out the applications sets up business meetings, and meets with different agencies. In October they meet three to four times a week to further organize the program.
From November 1st to Christmas it is an everyday job checking boxes receiving applications, holding meetings, drafting publicity, budgeting funds, shopping, organizing inventory, data entry and computer work.
Toys for Tots gives to children as young as infants all the way through teens. Children receive toys, stocking stuffers, books, apples, oranges, candy canes and stuffed animals.
The organization puts all of the money donated back into local retailers during their shopping trips, something Ginder says the team is very adamant about.
On Friday evening the group held an open house at their fairgrounds toyland, stacked wall to wall with every type of toy imaginable, ready for their new homes.
From 9:00 to 3:00 on Saturday parents of children who are receiving toys will visit the fairgrounds where Search and Rescue members and volunteers from the community will help pick out toys and help load them into cars.
Do you know someone who would benefit from this amazing holiday program?
It’s never too late for Christmas with the Lassen County Toys for Tots. If you know someone who could benefit from this amazing program they can follow this link and download a printable application to bring with them to the fairgrounds between 9:00 and 3:00 on Saturday.
After the distribution the left over toys will remain at the fairgrounds until after the first of the year and the organization will continue to help those who couldn’t make distribution day or other families in need during emergency situations.
We put together a little gallery of photos so you can see exactly what this community bought for the kids. Good job everybody!
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