Toy Box officials hope there are enough to go around

Barb Ostrum, coordinator of the McCook, Nebraska, "Toy Box," sorts baby toys with Cory Burrows, left, and Jesus Gauna, preparing for the Toy Box give-away Sunday, at 1 p.m., in the former Nebraska National Guard Armory at 404 W. Seventh, the block south of McCook Senior High. Cory, left, a junior in the McCook Public Schools' LIFT alternative education program, and Jesus, a senior, and other LIFT students volunteered their time this week to help Toy Box elves prepare for children and shoppers Sunday. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Santa's head elf in McCook, Nebraska, is concerned that some children may go without toys, or have fewer toys, under their Christmas tree this year.

Barb Ostrum, who coordinates McCook's annual "Toy Box" gift give-away, and Joan Bass, who coordinates Santa's helper elves from McCook Senior High, are worried that there haven't been as many toys donated to the Toy Box as in past years.

And too many toys have been donated that are missing pieces or are broken and dirty. And books have been donated that are not age appropriate.

Crystal Chiplaski sorts "Weebles" for the annual Toy Box distribution. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

Trying so hard not to sound ungrateful for the very nice donations, Barb said she is still disheartened when toys are broken or dirty, when puzzles are missing pieces, when books donated are "bodice ripper," "vocabulary expansion," "biology extra credit" and "chemistry homework" romance novels.

"People are incredibly generous," Barb said, so appreciative of the new toys and clean, gently-used toys that are donated. "But, please, we can't give away as Christmas gifts what's broken and dirty in the bottom of your toy box. No child deserves that."

Barb, Joan and Joan's students from the MPS's alternative education program spend days ahead of the Toy Box give-away sorting and cleaning toys.

Broken toys and pieces of broken toys have to be thrown away, Barb said. Toy Box elves not have storage available to save toys from one year to the next, hoping that next year someone will donate just the piece that's missing.

Someone who has no toys at home to donate can purchase and donate new toys or make monetary donations, which are used to buy new toys (for age groups particularly lacking in toys or games), cleaning supplies and batteries.

New and gently-used toys, dolls, games, puzzles and books can be donated through Saturday.

They can be deposited in specially-marked containers at Dollar General, Wal-Mart, Charley's, McCook Christian Church and Alco. Santa's helpers pick up these deposits daily.

Inside toy drop-off locations are at First Central Bank, McCook National Bank, Eakes Office Plus, AmPride, the Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska office at 108 West C, the Toy Box workshop in the 100 block of East C.

The last chance to drop toys off at the north door of the armory will be 2 p.m., Saturday.

Anyone who wants to help make a child's Christmas brighter is encouraged to come shopping Sunday. Shoppers are asked to enter the armory through the east doors starting at 1 p.m, and not to bring sacks, bags and boxes.

Children are welcome to attend, visit Santa Claus and have their picture taken with the jolly old elf courtesy of Linda Maiden of State Farm Insurance, McCook.