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Onondaga County’s Toys for Tots Increases Donation Sites Onondaga County Toys for Tots Provide More Donation Sites

More Toys for Tots donation sites in Onondaga County

By Krizia Williams

Jenna Nichols: “It’s been nice to see people coming in and giving us different things and you know knowing it’s going back to our community that we live in. It’s nice to see that.”

Reporter Krizia Williams: JENNA NICHOLS IS THE PROPERTY MANAGER AT CLARENDON HEIGHTS APARTMENT COMPLEX.
CLARENDON HEIGHTS IS A NEW DONATION SITE.
SHE SAYS THEY ARE HAPPY HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY SEASON.

Jenna Nichols: “It’s something that, you know, kind of started out as something a little smaller last year to see how it would go. And as of this year it is something I’ll gladly welcome back every year.”

Reporter Krizia Williams: “Last year Syracuse Toys for Tots collected 17 thousand toys. And this year they expect to collect over 20 thousand.”

Edward Mora: “To us it’s important to just meet as much need as we possibly can.”

Reporter Krizia Williams: EDWARD MORA IS A MARINE STAFF SERGEANT AND COORDINATOR FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY’S TOYS FOR TOTS.
HE SAYS THIS YEAR TOYS FOR TOTS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED ITS DONATION SITES AROUND ONONDAGA COUNTY.
HE ALSO SAYS THE AMOUNT OF FAMILIES IN NEED INCREASES EACH YEAR AND THAT IS WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DONATION SITES. BUT THE KIDS IN NEED ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE PUSHING MORA TO GET AS MANY DONATIONS AS POSSIBLE.

Edward Mora: “I have children of my own. It means a lot to me. I couldn’t imagine not being able to support or help my family.”

Reporter Krizia Williams: THIS IS MORA’S SECOND YEAR AS COORDINATOR
AND LIKE ADDING MORE DONATION SITES, EACH YEAR HE PLANS TO HELP THE ORGANIZATION BE BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
HE SAYS A MAJOR GOAL OF TOYS FOR TOTS IS TO LET THOSE IN NEED KNOW THEIR COMMUNITY IS HERE TO SUPPORT THEM.

Edward Mora: “You always kind of need someone to lean on.”

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Onondaga County’s Toys for Tots is has added more donation sites. This initiative has increased the amount the toys being donated and community involvement.

Property manager at Clarendon Heights, Jenna Nichols, said the apartment complex is new to the donation site community. She said it has made her so happy to see the box fill with toys knowing the donations are helping the community around them.

“It’s been nice to see people coming in and giving us different things and you know knowing it’s going back to our community that we live in. It’s nice to see that,” Nichols said.

Staff Sgt. and Toys for Tots  coordinator, Edward Mora, said adding new donation sites is essential to the rising families in need. He said families in need increase each year. This year Toys for Tots is expected over 20 thousand donations compared to the 17 thousand last year.

“To us it’s important to just meet as much need as we possibly can,” Mora said.

Mora has a personal connection to the organization. He said his daughters and wife really push him to collect as many toys as possible to provide for as many kids as possible.

“I have children of my own. It means a lot to me. I couldn’t imagine not being able to support or help my family,” he said.

Mora said community involvement is a big target for adding more donation sites. He said it’s important for those in need to know they have a community around them to support them especially during the holiday season.

“You always kind of need someone to lean on,” he said.

If you would like more information about Toys for Tots or their upcoming distribution day that pairs with the Salvation Army, please visit their website.

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