The Broome County Children’s Toy Project has been experiencing rain, snow, sleet, economic prosperity and depression, and even the global pandemic since 1962. It will replay Santa’s helper in 2021.
Broome County Tots for Tots Coordinator Binghamton Police Officer Chris Marshall participated in the weekly local public affairs program, and Southern Tier Close Up outlined the schedule and procedures for this year's program.
In the past few months, Officer Marshall has been collecting toys and hiding them at Binghamton City Hall in preparation for the large collection, registration and eventual distribution of toys to hundreds of Broome County children.
About three years later, when he signed a contract to supervise the local Toys for Tots, the Binghamton police certainly could not know the challenges posed to this 59-year-old project in the form of COVID-19. The plan quickly adapted to changing information and protocols, and still helped hundreds of Broome County children who would otherwise have no toys during the holidays.
One challenge that the local program continues to face is to ensure that people are aware of the difference between Toys for Tots in Broome County that only gives gifts to local children and another program that operates across the U.S.
People who want to donate new, unpackaged toys to children in Broome County should look for donation buckets at the local police agency and the Broome County Sheriff’s Office. The other barrels of the local plan are located in other businesses and bear the logo of the Broome County Children’s Toy Company, with a merry-go-round in the middle.
The police will also hold a "Fill the Cruiser" event at Vestal Walmart from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 4 to fill as many police cars as possible with toys.
Broome County Toys for Tots is headquartered in Oakdale Shopping Center in Johnson City. It is the former Payless shoe store at the end of the shopping center. Macy’s used to operate here and will accept money and Toy donation.
You can learn more about registration and donations on the Southern Tier Close Up and Broome County Toys for Tots Facebook pages.
Listen to the Southern Layer close-up on the news station 1290 WNBF and WNBF podcasts at 6:03 AM on Saturday.