ORLANDO, Fla. — Volunteers with Toys-for-Tots were busy at one of their local warehouses on Thursday.
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Volunteers sorted and distributed toys for thousands of kids.
Destiny Daniels’ three children are just a few of the thousands who will now have a present to open Christmas morning.
“My oldest is ten, she’s a girl,” Daniels said. “My two younger boys are two and five.”
She was able to pick up the toys for her kids Thursday morning, as the Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties warehouse began its distribution.
Watch: ‘This means so much for my family’: ‘Toys for Tots’ needs donations
“It helps to get extra help from Toys-for-Tots, I really appreciate it,” Daniels said. “They help kids all over the world. This is nice for us, thank you, we really appreciate it.”
To make it all possible, Santa’s helpers were hard at work sorting, bagging, and handing out the thousands of toys to Central Florida families.
“That’s the best thing to watch, actually, the toys getting distributed to the families,” Teresa Guzman, a volunteer, said.
Read: Toys for Tots: Shop for a child
This year, the need is even greater. Nearly 60,000 children are expected to receive gifts from the Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties warehouses.
With less than two weeks until Christmas, there is still a gap that needs to be filled to meet that need.
“We are shy of our mark for 0-2, 8-10, and 11-13 for both boys and girls,” Sgt. Paul Jackson, the Assistant Coordinator for Toys-for-Tots, said.
Channel 9 is asking the community to help fill that gap.
Read: Toys for Tots ‘Drive-Up, Drop-Off’ Toy Drive
Folks can join us for our final “Drive-Up and Drop-Off” toy donation drive Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Just bring a new and unwrapped toy to our WFTV studio at 490 East South Street in downtown Orlando.
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