Toys for Tots Warehouse in Mendota Heights Feels a Bit Bare This Year

Marines are tough, but right now, they're asking for help. The Marines Toys for Tots Foundation warehouse in Mendota Heights is about 20,000 toys behind their goals, and there are only a few days left to gather, sort and package the gifts to be distributed throughout the state to children in need.

"We've got more volunteers than we know what to do with," said Toys for Tots dispatcher Corporal Tim Anderson, "It's toys that are the problem."

Charitable organizations and support networks throughout the state submit requests to the Marines for toys to serve the families they help. The 20-some Marines operating the warehouse collect the toys in their five trucks from countless donation sites, and, with the help of about 100 volunteers a day, package them to fill the requests of the organizations.

Volunteer Vicki Tousignant has been giving her time to help Toys for Tots for ten years. She said the level of toy donations this year is "terrible." Even donations for babies, usually plentiful, "have really been a surprise."

Donations for girls age 11-17 are the lowest, said Marine Staff Sergeant Michael Rice.

Rice and his fellow Marines have been working from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to get the big job of collecting toys for the state completed. There are two small distribution hubs in the north and south of the state as well.  

Tousignant said that last weekend would have been the biggest time for donations, but a combination of extremely bad weather and the relocation of the Vikings game to Detroit may have discouraged donations.

The game alone was estimated to bring in $20,000-$25,000 and about 500 toys.

The Marines and their partners will try again if this weekend's game at TCF Stadium happens.

Rice said he worries that people will wait until it's too late to donate. If organizations have already picked up their orders, toys donated in the days leading up to Christmas will be stored until next year. Ideally, he would like to see donations before the Dec. 18 or 19 to give volunteers time to get everything sorted.

Anyone interested in donating toys can bring them to donation sites throughout the metro, or drop them off directly at the warehouse office, #400 2360 Pilot Knob Road.

It's a great cause," said Rice. "The thing I don't think people realize is where their toys go. Every toy donated in Minnesota goes directly to Minnesotans."