We've pushed the U–S Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots campaign for months. Thanks to your donations, many underprivileged children in central Illinois will have a merry Christmas.

McLean County's Toys for Tots program exceeded their goal of collecting 30–thousand toys.

Mothers like Sheila Wos say the Mclean County's Toys for Tots Campaign is helping her create a Christmas experience, she might not have been able to afford..

"It helps me out a lot because right now is my slow time at work and money's kinda tight," said Wos.

In the coming days, families will pack this room at the McLean County Salvation Army to pick up holiday gifts.
With donations from viewers like you, Toys for Tots collected more than 33–thousand gifts for the campaign.

"It's everybody out there in central Illinois that makes this number possible," said McLean County Toys For Tots' Matt Drat.

The campaign coordinator says a majority of shoppers picking up gifts from the campaign are working individuals not making enough to support their families.

"Many of the people in our community are living paycheck to paycheck," said Drat.

And despite hard times economically for many families in central Illinois, officials are excited to see families helping families.
Area residents donated about 40–percent–more gifts than last year.
The donations from campaign will provide gifts for nearly 7–thousand children this year.

"I knew we were going to have more but I didn't realize it was going to be that much more," said Drat.

And the donations could not have come at a better time.

"I always had a big Christmas and I want (my kids) to have big ones too," said Wos.