Toys for Tots collected almost 23,000 toys to be distributed to northern Michigan families in the five-county region for its 2018 campaign, organizers announced Monday.

Toys for Tots Coordinator Maggie Kent says the toys will be given to more than 7,000 children during the Christmas season. The group works through 12 human service agencies in the region to distribute the toys, including the Father Fred Foundation and Salvation Army. The campaign covers Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Benzie counties. Other Toys for Tots campaigns are active in different northern Michigan counties.

For the second year in a row, toy donations had a slight decline, but that was offset by a reduction in the number of people seeking assistance. This year’s campaign was bolstered by a successful Bikes For Tikes campaign that collected an additional 360 bikes to be distributed. Even with challenges facing the organization this year, like longtime partner Toys 'R' Us closing, Kent praised the generosity of community donors in helping to make a successful Toys for Tots campaign. “There are a lot of families who have a tough time making ends meet,” says Kent. “Hopefully we can continue to see the need diminishing in future years.”

The toy drive is part of a national campaign that started 71-years ago by the Marine Corps Reserves. It is the largest toy collection program in the country, with 800 campaigns in all 50 states.

Photo credit: Mike Kent