Yule Spirit Sputters : Donations to Marine Toys for Tots Drive Show 50% Decline

With only a few days left to round up 33,000 Christmas toys for needy Orange County children, Marine Staff Sgt. Michael Diaz says he feels a bit overwhelmed.

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This time last year, Diaz and a platoon of Marines and other volunteers at ground zero of the annual Toys for Tots drive were knee-deep in new merchandise headed for nonprofit agencies, which in turn distributed the goodies to families.

But Wednesday, the drab, vacant El Toro Marine Corps Air Station barracks that serves as a warehouse for the program was nearly bare. So was the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center, where 1st Sgt. Wendell Blackgrave needs to find 14,000 toys fast.

Despite a slight jump in donations reported by Southern California charities, the Marines have had a 50% decline in gifts at El Toro and a 40% drop at Los Alamitos.

“The general feeling is the economy is good,” said Diaz. “I just really can’t figure out what to tell you.”

Ellen Schneider of Feedback Foundation, which verifies requests from Orange County agencies served by Toys for Tots, has a different opinion on the slack donations: “I don’t think it’s because people don’t want to. I think it’s because they can’t. They don’t have the money or the means to do so. Everybody’s on a tight budget.”

Diaz and his colleagues hope that a massive, last-minute burst of donor generosity will brighten Christmas for expectant youngsters.

“The Marine Corps has been known to complete all of its missions over the last 200 years,” Diaz said. “In a sense this is a mission. It’s kind of corny to say it. Marines are supposed to be rough and tough, but it’s a labor of love.”

And patience, faith and trust.

Marines at El Toro are trying to fill requests of 91 nonprofit agencies for 57,000 toys, but some of the several hundred red, yellow and green Toys for Tots barrels throughout the county haven’t been overflowing. Despite posters designating them as collection points, some of the barrels have been mistaken for trash cans.

“It’s hard to imagine that people don’t know what the barrels are for,” Diaz said.

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A final push for donations is planned through through Friday at South Coast Plaza, Laguna Hills Mall and the Tustin Marketplace.

Those who want to leave new toys in barrels at Orange County police departments, fire departments and businesses may call (714) 726-6746 for locations, or bring them to the El Toro base. Those who want to donate at Los Alamitos may call (310) 795-2389.

Blackgrave said he called Marines with the Toys for Tots effort in San Diego County this week, asking for help, but they said their donations are down by at least 40% and could spare nothing.

Toys for Tots officials ask that donors spend at least $5 to $10 for a new toy. The program serves children up to age 14 and is in dire need of toys for 9- to 14-year-olds.

In its 48th year, the program was started in Los Angeles when 5,000 toys were collected and distributed. Nearly 200 Marine Corps Reserve units nationwide now participate in the Christmas charity.

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Capt. Don Buczynski, Toys for Tots officer at El Toro, confirmed that toy donations in the Orange County program are down about 50% from last year.

“We can’t fill the big orders yet,” Buczynski said. “We’re just hoping that more toys come in. Hopefully, we won’t have to cut anybody off.”

Some of the agencies have already agreed to take a reduced allotment because of the plunge in gifts this year.

Diaz, who received presents one year through Toys for Tots while his father was serving in Vietnam, said he will never forget the thrill.

He wants other children--and their parents--to have the same type of memory.

“I don’t think I could look into a kid’s eyes on Christmas and not give them a toy,” Diaz said.