ARLINGTON The Arlington American Legion Post 76 Toys for Kids program gave more than 300 local children some presents to put under their trees this year, as volunteers set out tables full of toys, clothes and other gift items for area food bank families Dec. 15.
Barb Lloyd, one of the organizers of the event, estimated that at least nine trucks and SUVs were needed to transport all the gift items from the Wal-Mart in Quil Ceda Village, enough for approximately two to three toys per child, plus one stocking-stuffer and a few clothes for each. She and her fellow volunteers only had a couple of hours Dec. 10 to purchase all the presents, like a shopping spree, but it took them much of the day Dec. 15 to divide the gifts by gender and age, from newborns to 16-year-olds, one floor above Post 76.
More than $9,000 was raised to fund the purchases of presents, from live and silent auctions to raffles and the proceeds from the American Legion bowling team, but Lloyd emphasized that its never too early to start donating toward next years Toys for Kids.
Like many of her fellow volunteers, Lloyd has been involved with the Arlington Food Bank and Helping Hands for several years, simply because theres a lot to enjoy. It gets hectic, when youre shopping and setting up tables, but its such fun. These kids are often so surprised to get anything for Christmas, that even little things can make them smile.