Toys for Tots collecting toys for Hand It to a Hero event

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Black Friday is here, and many residents spent the day after Thanksgiving hunting down the best deals for those Christmas gifts. But this weekend represents an important one for a local organization.

This Saturday, Toys for Tots will be holding their Hand It to a Hero Toy Drive.

Working with local law enforcement and military branches to collect toys to give to kids on Christmas, and there is no more important day than this one to help them complete their mission

“We have Marines, Air Force, Navy, and Army coming. And it’s just all the heroes gathering together to bring in toys and monetary donations for the kids in Warren County. We have to have this day. This last year, they raised over a thousand toys and over $5,000” said Toys for Tots coordinator Janel Doyle.

While all toys are accepted, there are some age groups that do need a little extra love this year.

“This year we have noticed a decline in our donations for ages 0 to 2, so that would be like Fisher-Price, leapfrog, stuffed animals, anything for the babies is what we call them, and also a decline in donations for ages 10 to 12. So, remote control cars, Nerf guns, Legos and Hot Wheels, makeup set, purses, makeup mirrors, anything like that for the older kids” Doyle said.

Gathering as many toys as possible is the mission, though, and it is a tough one as Toys for Tots will be serving thousands of children. And this year, their phone has already been busy ringing, taking requests for gifts.

“Last year in Warren County alone, we served 8000 children, and we serve 31,000 children in 23 Kentucky counties total. Honestly, this year our filing for Warren County has been on for two weeks, and we’ve already taken nearly 400 calls, and each family averages about two kids apiece. So we have more phone calls coming in this year, so we know the need is going to be stronger. That phone stays on until December 17th, so the closer it gets to Christmas, the more calls we’re going to get. We know that it happens every year” Doyle said.

If you would like to donate, Hand it to a Hero is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walmart on Campbell Lane in Bowling Green.