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Hernando Today

Toy Donations Are Up This Year

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: December 21, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Beth Cosgrove was waiting in line to snatch an arm full of stocking stuffers for her two kids.

That was when she noticed a group of men who looked as if they were among those who helped fill an entire school cafeteria with more than 20,000 toys for the area's needy children.

She guessed correctly.

"It was very nice of all of you to do this," she said to the men. "I wanted to thank someone for it."

Lt. Col. Mike Ralph heads the Navy Junior ROTC program at Central High School. He was one of the men who shook Cosgrove's hand along with Bob Ross, of the Marine Corps League Detachment 708 and organizer of Saturday's Toys for Tots program.

Hundreds of parents lined up outside the school's cafeteria to collect their kids' presents. They were allowed to grab up to three toys, five books, two stuffed animals and three stocking stuffers for each child.

It was one of the biggest single-day Toys for Tots collection in the region. In years past, the local Marine Corps League Detachment held it during a three-week period at the Hernando County Fairgrounds.

They decided to do it differently this year.

"It takes all year to gear up for all of this," said Ross, who was energized throughout the morning as he watched thousands of parents collect toys for their children.

The tables were filled with dolls, toy cars, video games, stuffed animals and board games. They were grouped by age appropriateness and gender. The tables on one side had toys for male toddlers while the tables on the opposite end had toys best-suited for girls ages 10-12.

Ross guessed that 200 more families and 500 more children would be seeking toys this Christmas compared to last year. As of Saturday, volunteers were prepared to give toys to more than 3,000 kids, he said.

Having 200 students from the Junior ROTC program and the Young Marines helped. The younger generation knows where to put the Guitar Hero boxes in relation to the stacks of Rock'em Sock'em Robots. They knew how to group the right toys with the right age group. They worked quickly.

"The kids just know," Ross said as he took sips from his mug of coffee. "The kids can look at a gift and know the right age for it."

Rachelle Spencer is a third-grade teacher at Suncoast Elementary School. She was among the 50 or more volunteers from the community to pitch in with the toys and corral the large lines of people funneling through the double doors.

She has volunteered in the past for Toys for Tots in Dade City.

"Because of the economy, I didn't think we'd have as many toys this year," she said as she looked over a pile of stuffed animals, "but I've seen a lot more of them on the table than I thought I would. I guess people are more inclined to give a little extra."

Becky Hardy was among the parents waiting outside.

Hardy, who lives in Masaryktown, is a student and has three children, ages 4, 9 and 14. Her husband's trade is construction.

"It's nice they're doing this," she said of the program. "We're both unemployed right now. Otherwise, the kids wouldn't be getting anything."

The toys inside the cafeteria were mostly for children 12 years old and younger.

She remains unsure about what to do with her 14-year-old daughter, although she hopes she is more understanding given her family's financial situation.

It would be much harder convincing her younger kids to accept a lean Christmas, she said. Hardy is relieved she won't be having that conversation with them thanks to Toys for Tots.

"I don't think the little ones would understand," she said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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