By Loren Foster
US Marine Toys for Tots
As November began, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots 2021 campaign in Archuleta County started to collect tax-deductible online and toy donations. Pagosa area children need you, so donate online or donate a toy at supporting businesses.
To donate a toy, see The PREVIEW for the list of local supporting businesses. Also, these toy collection locations are listed at pagosa-springs-co.toysfortots.org. Checks and money orders may be sent to U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Archuleta, P.O. Box 1567, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. All toy and monetary donations remain 100 percent within the county, are tax deductible and, better yet, benefit local families in need of a little help.
Parents can request toys for their children 17 years and under by applying online at the above website. Information collected in the application will only be used to ensure residency and to match the children’s ages and genders with the toys available. Parents without computers or cellphones can request a paper application be mailed to you by calling (970) 264-2049.
The following local agencies will assist their client parents with registration by providing written instructions or assisting with the online application: Aspire, Department of Human Services, Head Start, Rise Above Violence, Salvation Army and San Juan Basin Public Health. The Ruby M. Sisson Library has computers, knowledgeable personnel and can assist with registration as well.
This year, toy distribution will be a one-day event occurring at the Tennyson Building Event Center, located at 197 Navajo Trail Drive, on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Identification will be required only to verify residency in Archuleta County. If unable to make this date, parents may call (970) 264-2049 to make alternate arrangement for toy pickup.
Similar to the 2020 distribution, parents will be handed pre-bagged toys for your children as a precaution in order to minimize human contact. Changes and delays may occur due to extreme weather, so be patient and we will get toys to you for your children.
From the Archuleta Toys for Tots Campaign, thank you to the Pagosa Springs community for your generous donations of toys during the 2020 season. Your contributions enabled 279 local children to each receive up to three toys, two books and two stocking stuffers. Thank you to the Tennyson Event Center for donating the use of the facility last year.
Due to COVID-19, donations and family registrations fell last year from prior years. We gave out 700 toys last year. Of that, about 40 percent came from the local community. The remaining toys came from check and website donations. Please join us in helping to offer hope to local parents in need with children this Christmas. Sadly, we run out of toys before we run out of children who deserve a little Christmas.
