PITTSBURGH — The holidays is a time of year many families look forward to. Parents want to make it extra special for their children, but because of the pandemic, families are struggling to make ends meet, let alone afford gifts.
“I am worried if I’m going to be able to give them what they really want for Christmas and at this point, I don’t know if I’ll be able to,” Sonja Bey said.
Bey has six kids and she’s worried there won’t be any presents under the tree. She said money has been tight after her husband was furloughed several months ago and she had to reduce her work hours to stay home with the kids.
“Everything was crashing at one time and I was just sick to my stomach,” she said. “I’ll never forget looking at my refrigerator being bare.”
Several organizations across the region are holding toy drives to help those less fortunate. Due to COVID-19, however, collecting toys will be different this year.
“The toy drive’s online and direct shipping from online vendors is helpful to us and our donors though we do have the ability to accept in-person donations,” Capt. Ted Tressler with the Salvation Army said.
The Salvation Army is having a Treasure Truck for Children Toy Drive at the Mall at Robinson and another one in New Kensington on Dec. 5.
Here are other ways to donate to the Salvation Army:
- CLICK HERE and donate online
- Donate with Apple Pay or Google Pay at a physical red kettle
- Ask Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to the Salvation Army,” and then specify an amount
- Text “KETTLES” to 91999
- Drop spare change and cash at a physical red kettle
- Shop at Walmart and “round up” your purchase with a donation at a cash register or online
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services’ Holiday Project collects new, unwrapped gifts for children. There is a need for:
- Warm winter wear for ages 0 -18 (hats, gloves, mittens, scarves)
- Baby necessities (blankets, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, bibs)
- Board games for all ages – to be played individually, with siblings, or as a family
- Dolls and action figures (ethnically diverse)
- Sports equipment for ages 3 -18 (including basketballs, footballs, and soccer balls)
- LEGO and Mega Bloks sets
- Craft kits and art supplies
- Science kits
- Remote control vehicles
You can also donate to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots of Beaver and Northwestern Allegheny County. There is an online registry at Walmart.com under Toys for Tots BC-NAC. Monetary donations can also be sent by check made out to TOYS FOR TOTS and sent to:
- Toys for Tots
- C/o Linda McKenzie
- 2015 Big Sewickley Creek Road
- Sewickley, PA 15143
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