Last year, Toys for Tots distributed over 170,000 toys to more than 52,000 children in the Phoenix area.
Kendahl Lock of Phoenix had an especially difficult 2020. She lost two family members and was unable to gather with loved ones to honor them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But one thing did bring her joy—the fundraising drive she started for Toys for Tots, which brought in $5,400 that year.
QUIZ: What Does Your Favorite Holiday Dish Say About You?
The drive went so well that she and her husband decided to organize one again in 2021, raising over $7,000.
And for their third year? The couple brought in $10,400, thanks in part to a $6,000 donation from Lock’s husband’s employer, Awareness Analytics Partners. The other 36 donations came from friends and family.
“We were hoping to get $10,000, but I really did not expect we were going to get that or anywhere near it,” Lock told The Copper Courier.
Getting a Jump Start
Lock has been starting the drive earlier and earlier each year. This year, she took advantage of some “Christmas in July” sales and started purchasing toys in the summer.
She started raising money in October and quickly filled up her home with 720 toys.
“[My husband] works remotely and so randomly he’d be on Zoom call and there would be a toy avalanche or one of them would start talking and then he would make another one talk,” she said. “It was ridiculous.”
Lock said the nonprofit asked to come pick up the toys in the second week of November because her drive is the largest personal donation they receive, and it would take time to sort through.
Lock said she makes sure to buy a wide range of toys for all ages and interests. She also mentioned buying a diverse set of dolls, including dolls of multiple ethnicities and a Barbie in a wheelchair, to make sure the gifts are inclusive.
“I make sure to get sports equipment and toys and crafts and board games and just something for everybody,” she said.
While Lock’s toy drive is over, there are still opportunities to donate. The Toys for Tots website has a search function for local campaigns and also accepts online donations.
Last year, the nonprofit distributed over 170,000 toys to over 52,000 children in the Phoenix area.
Looking for the latest Arizona news? Sign up for our FREE daily newsletter.
Politics
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in major abortion access case
The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard oral arguments on a case that will ultimately decide the future of mifepristone access in the United States. ...
VIDEO: Arizona Rep. Lorena Austin explains why ‘SB1166 is a dangerous bill’
@coppercourier Rep. Lorena Austin commanded the floor when they spoke about SB1166. The bill would require parents to be notified no more than five...
Local News
Prescription drugs are getting cheaper for seniors thanks to Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act
Prescription drug costs are falling by the thousands this year for more than a million American seniors due to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction...
VIDEO: This is why Right to Counsel is necessary for housing equality
@coppercourier A right to counsel has been proven to help tenants win eviction cases and stay in their homes, and it can soften the blow when...