Toys for Tots campaign kicks off

Thousands of needy children in Southern Colorado will receive new toys this Christmas, thanks to donations from the community. Toys for Tots kicked off its annual drive Saturday.

“For people who can’t afford toys for Christmas, it’s able to give kids a chance so that way they’re able to have toys, and have a good Christmas,” said 13-year-old Connor Sexton, a Young Marine volunteering for Toys for Tots.

Residents of Southern Colorado can drop off new, unwrapped toys for newborns to 16-year-olds until Christmas. All donations will go to less fortunate children in the community. Toys for Tots also accepts monetary donations and uses them to buy toys.

Organizers said this year, they received more requests for toys than last year. They estimate they will deliver toys to about 1,800 children this year.

“We certainly are hoping to get a lot of response from the people this year, because we have a lot more needy children,” John Kowall said.

This year, for the first time, Pueblo will have its own Toys for Tots campaign.