Local Toys For Tots Foundation Needs More Gifts For 10- To 14-Year-Olds

Timothy Sherman's Christmas shopping list is almost as long as Santa's.

As the Mentor coordinator for the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation, he's in charge of getting gifts for more than 5,200 kids this year.

(This isn't even the busiest year he's seen. One year, they collected toys for more than 8,000 children.)

Obviously, Sherman and the other people at Toys for Tots don't do it alone. They depend on the generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations to make these kids' holiday wishes come true.

And, this year, Sherman is making a special request to help some of the older children.

"For younger kids, donations are up," Sherman said. "But for 10- to 14-year-olds, donations are down."

Sherman noted that lot of gifts for this age group need not be literal toys.

"It doesn't have to be a Tonka truck for the older kids," he said. "It could be perfume or makeup kits for the girls, knowledge games or skills games, a football."

Sherman declined to specify any particular toys that were in demand, because he prefers it when the gifter uses their own tastes.

He stressed, regardless of what is donated, every toy will find a home this year.

The final round of donation collections will be Dec. 21. There are 16 places just around Mentor where people can drop off donated toys. They are listed on the Mentor Toys for Tots page.

Also, if you'd rather give money as opposed to a toy, you can donate directly to the Mentor Reserve Unit on its web page. (If you donate here, the money will specifically go to toys for kids in Northeast Ohio.)

Anyone who wants to know more about how they can help may email laketoysfortots@yahoo.com with questions.