CHARLOTTE — Helen Fagert hopes the empty boxes in her office at work will soon be filled with Christmas gifts for local kids who otherwise might wake up with nothing under the tree.
Ashley King State Farm in Charlotte is one of 300 business collecting donations for Toys for Tots.
“Nothing can replace the joy of watching your child open up a gift and just be free of any financial stressor,” Fagert said. “We’re super excited to have it in our office this year, because it helps us band together as a community.”
Last month, Channel 9′s Erika Jackson spoke with SSgt. Scot Bowen as Toys for Tots put out its plea for a space to house all the donated gifts.
Bowen, the area coordinator, says his team found a vacant school to rent as a warehouse beginning on Nov. 1.
“(We) have a space, we have a place to house all the toys,” Bowen told us this weekend. “Now, the next biggest priority is receiving toys.”
But not all problems are solved.
“This year, one of our main challenges in the warehouse is, because we’re going to have to spend some of our money on the warehouse, it’s taking away from being able to buy the toys that we need to provide for the children,” Bowen said.
A spokesperson told Channel 9 the group is Charlotte is already working with a third of its usual budget from the national Toys for Tots foundation. In their new location, a significant chunk of that funding will pay for rent.
“The biggest pro is the fact that we have (a space),” Bowen said. “That’s the important part, a place to facilitate all the toys and distribute them out when it comes to that part of the year.”
He stresses the team is getting a late start, about a month behind schedule. They’re asking more folks to donate toys and more volunteers to help sort the gifts.
Bowen said 50 nonprofits have applied for toys to support nearly 12,000 children. Applications aren’t set to be released to the public until later next month, but another 700 families have already reached out requesting gifts for 2,000 kids.
Fagert said it brings smiles to the hearts of her colleagues knowing they can do something to help.
“Nothing makes us happier than making a positive impact on the community in any way that we can,” she said.
(WATCH BELOW: Money, donations pour in after items stolen from a Toys for Tots drive near Belmont)
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