With the holiday season in full swing, families scurry through malls, searching for the perfect gifts. However, some families in poor economic standing may have limited options when it comes to creating the perfect Christmas morning for their children.

“We want to benefit the children,” said Kelli Anderson, public relations specialist for Carle Foundation Hospital, which holds a toy drive annually with the Salvation Army. “There are so many people that have to go without giving their kids a gift during the holidays. We want families to still be able to have a great Christmas.”

Along with the Salvation Army’s 28th annual toy drive, the Office of Volunteer Programs will also continue the 10-year tradition of its annual gift drive.

The Salvation Army began their drive in November, and it will end Dec. 15. The organization is looking to collect toys for all age groups. Anderson said the organization collected almost $2,500 dollars in monetary gifts and about 2,000 donations and gift cards last year. The organization does not have a goal for this year’s drive, but Anderson said they hope to meet the growing need for families in the area.

“We collected nearly $2,500 dollars in monetary gifts last year and over 2,500 donations,” Anderson said. “We don’t have a set goal this year, but there are over 1,000 families in need and that number is likely to go up. So our goal is to give these families several more options this year with our donations.”

The Salvation Army will also continue to host a toy shop where families can shop for gifts from the donations when the drive is completed.

The Office of Volunteer Programs began collecting toys in mid-November and will accept donations until Dec. 14. Staff, students and community members are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped gifts, costing less than $15. Donors also have the option to give a gift to a specific child or family.

The toys will then be donated to local human service agencies that will distribute them to families in need. The toys are given to children of all ages, from infants to older teens. Depending on the agency receiving the donations from the Office of Volunteer Programs, the toys may be distributed to an entire family or individual children.

Meridith Mara, volunteer for the office and senior in AHS, said the goal is to collect at least 1,000 toys this year, topping their 884 donated toys last year.

“It’s exciting thinking about the joy they probably feel when they’re opening these gifts for the first time,” she said.

Kati Hinshaw, volunteer for the office and graduate student, said she enjoys volunteering for the toy drive because it reminds her of her own experiences, which she wishes to share.

“The best part is getting to share the same level of memories you had as a child with someone who might not have those memories,” Hinshaw said. “You’re really making someone feel special.”

Yele can be reached at [email protected].