Twin Falls Toys for Tots finds operation location, announces ways to donate during pandemic

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) - The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for toys this holiday season. To honor social distancing restrictions, Twin Falls Toys for Tots has set up Amazon Wish Lists full of needed toys.

KMVT will be live at various businesses leading up to Dec. 15 where the public is invited to drop off toy donations.

The local coordination effort is part of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. KMVT has partnered with Twin Falls Toys for Tots for many years in facilitating a place to organize the toys and inform the community of how it can participate in the annual effort to bring gifts to children who might not otherwise have any gifts for Christmas.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the local charity will not have traditional drop-off locations, but there will be some upcoming toy drives and events, which will be added to this story.

This year, Twin Falls Toys for Tots had to find a new location to operate from. Agropur in Jerome offered space for the local charity.

Last year, the organization supported more than 8,000 children and distributed more than 30,000 toys to children in the area. The need this year is expected to be even greater

“One of the things I wanted to make sure is that the community knows that the only way that this program gets done with having 10,000 kids is a pretty big shopping list," Debbie Johnson with Toys for Tots said. “It’s a huge shopping list, so we really need everybody in our community to pitch in together to get this done because every child deserves a little bit of Christmas.”

Anyone interested in donating, please refer to the Wish Lists. The toys you donate will go straight to the Toys for Tots warehouse to help a child in need this season.

Toys for Tots wish lists on Amazon:

• Infants and Toddlers
• Preschool
• Elementary
• Teens

Toy Drop-off Locations:

People may drop off toys in a contactless manner through about Dec. 15 at the following locations during normal business hours.

Click here for locations

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