The McLean County Toys for Tots hopes to fill a big gap left by one of its long time sponsors.
Coordinator Matt Drat says Mitsubishi Motors is changing its financial contributions this year.

Last year McLean County parents picked up free toys and gifts for nearly 5–thousand children at the Salvation Army in Bloomington.
The holiday gesture faces a slight challenge now.
Mitsubishi Motors says due to the worsening economy, the company won't be able to provide financial help. But McLean Co Toys 4 tots organizers hope small businesses and community groups will step up.

"If you can collect 50 toys that's 50 more toys, if I start to add the 50 toys, the 100 toy collections together that's where we are going to make the biggest difference on not only helping the kids we have from last year, but the kids we know we're gonna get new this year," said McLean County Toys for Tots Coordinator Matt Drat.

During it's kick off Monday McLean County Toys for Tots organizers announced they plan to collect 21–thousand toys and gifts for children.
With many people out of work Christmas shopping will be tough for families this year.
The Bloomington area Salvation Army says there could be up to a 20–percent increase in the number of people needing.

"We're seeing a pretty sizeable percentage increase in all of our other services that we've been doing throughout the year, like the food pantry and utility assistance, rent assistance even our homeless shelter is packed to the gills," said Captain Scott Shelbourn of the McLean County Salvation Army.

Drat says McLean County Toys for Tots hopes to still be able to provide 4 toys per child.
But organizers won't know until the day before distribution if that will be possible this year.

Mitsitbushi Motors is still providing Toys for Tots the use of a vehicle and is also holding an employee toy drive.
For a list of the 50 drop–off locations log onto week–dot–com.