The 61-year-old Toys for Tots program is not just about giving stuffed animals to toddlers at Christmas.
The organization, which has operated in Utah for more than three of its six decades, also caters to needy families with children ages 12 to 16, too. That is the demographic least likely to get a gift, said 1st Sgt. Seth M. Cole, a Marine who coordinates the Toys for Tots program in the Salt Lake City area.
"There's not [usually] a whole lot for teens," he said.
The Toys for Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December and distributes them as Christmas gifts to needy children in communities across the country, according to the program's Web site.
Cole suggested people planning to donate to Toys for Tots this year think about gifts for younger and older children. Older children and teens could be given athletic equipment, skateboards, compact discs and compact disc players, he suggested.
The Salvation Army, which helps the Marines, began taking applications for this year's Toys for Tots and Angel Tree program the first week of October. The application helps determine the needs of each family.
More than 2,000 Salt Lake City families already have qualified for the program, the limit in the area, Salvation Army Maj. Richard Green said.
Those still wishing to request a toy for a child can go to www.toysfortots.org, find the coordinator in his or her area and send an e-mail that includes a mailing address, phone and fax number.
Last year, roughly 20,000 Utah kids received gifts through the Toys for Tots program, Cole said. He expected to distribute to that many children again this year, if not more.
Greene said applications for the program were up 30 percent this year compared with the same time last year.
"The application total exceeded what we did last year," Greene said. "At this point, I would say the need is greater."
To qualify for Toys for Tots, a family must be receiving federal or state assistance, such as food stamps or reduced-cost school lunches, Greene said. Extenuating circumstances also are taken into account.
More than 100 businesses in Salt Lake County are designated as drop-off points where Utahns can take gifts that will be distributed by the Marines to needy families.
Participating businesses include Toys R Us stores, Walmarts and Spring Mobile locations.
Several dozen more businesses will be drop-off spots by December. Most malls will also have drop boxes, Cole said.
"Each year is a success," he said.
It is best to drop off gifts at collection sites by Dec. 20 to make sure they can be picked up and distributed before Christmas, Cole said. Gifts left in collection boxes on Christmas Eve are too late.
Those late toys and other items are donated to the Marine Corps League or are inventoried and kept for next Christmas, he said.
Bountiful
Blockbuster Video, 545 S. 200 West.
Discount Tires, 2527 S. Main St.
Manlove Toyota, 2380 S. U.S. Highway 91.
Walgreens, 515 S. 500 West.
Centerville
Walmart, 221 W. Parrish Lane.
Blockbuster Video, 150 N. Frontage Road.
Clearfield
Family Dollar, 936 W. 1700 South.
Sparetime Family Fun Center, 381 S. State St.
Madbrook Donut Co., 540 E. 1700 South.
Clinton
Blockbuster Video, 1867 N. 2000 West.
Clinton Fire Department.
Family Dollar, 1967 N. 2000 West.
Walgreens, 1962 W. 1800 South.
Kaysville
Family Dollar, 332 N. Main St.
Kaysville Fire Department.
Walgreens, 210 N. Main St.
Layton
Blockbuster Video, 78 S. Fairfield Road.
Blockbuster Video, 1290 E. Highway 193.
Blockbuster Video, 1986 Hill Field Road.
Clayton Homes, 198 Darlington Way.
Discount Tires, 2059 N. Hill Field Road.
Discount Tires, 881 W. Hill Field Road.
Family Dollar, 765 E. Gordon Ave.
Garcia's Mexican Restaurant, 1075 N. Hill Field Road.
Hidden Cove Apartments, 2075 N. Main St.
Morgan Jewelers, Layton Hills Mall.
Northridge High School, 2430 N. Hill Field Road.
Toys R Us, 1780 Woodland Park Drive.
Walgreens, 1171 W. 2000 North.
Walmart, 745 W. Hill Field Road.
Syracuse
Blockbuster Video, 901 W. 1700 South.
Maverik Store, 1991 W. 1700 South.
Walgreens, 1037 W. 1700 South.
Sparetime Family Fun Center.
Woods Cross
Kmart, 680 W. 2600 South.
Family Dollar, 1638 S. 500 West.
Toys R Us, 86 E. University Parkway, Orem.
Babies R Us, 86 E. University Parkway, Orem.
Walmart, 949 W. Grassland Drive, American Fork.
Walmart, 136 W. State Road 73, Saratoga Springs.
Big Lots, 702 E State St., American Fork.
Kmart, 475 N State St., Orem.
Walgreens, 102 N 1200 East, Lehi.
Walgreens, 763 N State St., Orem.
Walgreens, 800 S State St., Orem.
Walgreens, 12623 S. Redwood Road, Riverton.
Walgreens, 1410 N. Redwood Road, Saratoga Springs.
Dollar Tree, 57 N. 700 West, American Fork.
Albertson's, 25 W. Center St., Orem.
Albertson's, 1585 N State St., Orem.
ShopKo, 125 S. State St., Orem
Morgan Jewelers, University Mall Provo
Brent Brown Auto, Toyota, 1400 S. Sandhill Drive, Orem
Chevy, 2125 N. University Parkway, Provo
Ford, 1995 N. University Parkway, Provo
Happy Valley Tattoo, 275 E, State St., American Fork
Discount Tire, 1325 S, State St, Orem.
Discount Tire, 1643 W. 126 South, Riverton .
Discount Tire, 661 W. State Road, American Fork.
Best Western, 1455 N 1750 West, Springville.
The Red Balloon, 468 N 990 West, American Fork.
Dennys, 475 N. State St., Orem.
Dennys, 1200 E 101 North, Lehi.
Coffee Creations, 147 E. State Road 73, Saratoga Springs.
Camp Williams, Main Gate, Camp Williams Road.
High Five Chiropractic LLC, 850 W. State Road 198, Salem.
The Disney Store, University Mall Provo.
Discount Tire, 9032 S. State St., Sandy.
Discount Tire, 12450 S. Minuteman Drive, Draper.
Discount Tire, 1652 W. 7000 South., West Jordan.
Discount Tire, 9618 S. Highland Drive, Sandy.
Family Dollar, 4635 West 6200 South, West Jordan.
Farmers Insurance, 1644 W. 105 South Town Center, No. 105, South Jordan.
Farnsworth Farms, 11228 S. 700 E., Sandy.
Georgell Doll Shop, 1100 W. 7800 S., No. 29, Midvale.
Karl Malone Toyota, 11453 S. Lone Peak Parkway, Draper.
King Arthur West Jordan, 1440 W. 7800 South, West Jordan.
Life Time Fitness, 10996 S. River Front Parkway, Salt Lake City.
Sears, 7453 Plaza Center Drive, West Jordan.
ShopKo, 1553 W. 9000 South, West Jordan.
ShopKo, 2165 E. 9400 S., Sandy.
Spring Mobile, 9306 S. Village Shop Drive, Sandy.
Spring Mobile, 10528 S. Redwood Road, South Jordan.
Spring Mobile, 10450 S. State St., Suite C-3, Sandy.
Stor n Lok, 8620 Harrison St., Sandy.
Utah Self Storage, 8425 S. State St., Sandy.
Walmart, 9151 S. Quarry Blvd., Sandy.
Walmart, 3706 W. 9800 S., South Jordan.
Walgreens, 10429 S. Redwood Road, South Jordan.
Walgreens, 9400 S. 2090 E., Sandy.
Walgreens, 7794 Redwood Road, West Jordan.
Walgreens, 3863 W. 9000 South, West Jordan.
Salt Lake City
Acme Burger, 275 S. 200 West.
Diamond Storage, 50 S. Redwood Road.
Discount Tire, 2269 S. State St.
Family Dollar, 2755 S. State St.
Family Dollar, 857 N. Redwood Road.
OShuck's, 22 E. 100 S.
Research Park-Family & Preventative Medicine, 375 Chipeta way, Suite A.
Robert Half International, 50 W. Broadway, Suite 500.
ShopKo, 2290 South 1300 East.
Spring Mobile, 1511 E. 2100 South
Spring Mobile, 2153 S. 700 East.
Stor n Lok, 1060 N. Beck St.
24 Hour Fitness, 700 E. 515 South.
Toys R Us, 2210 S. 1300 East.
Walgreens, 909 E. 2100 South.
Walgreens, 531 E. 400 South.
Mark Miller Toyota, 730 S. West Temple
Stor n Lok, 1060 N. Beck St.
97.9 Radio Station, 257 E. 200 South, Suite 400
Airport Security, 638 N. 3700 W.
Big Lots, 3931 W, 900 South, West Jordan.
Park City
OShuck's/Ahh Sushi, 8178 Gogoza Pines Road.
OShuck's, 427 Main St.
Park City Peaks, 2121 Park Ave.
JW Allen & Son's Toy Store, 1675 W. Redston Center.
Spring Mobile, 1700 Park Ave., Suite 103A
ARI Diamonds, 807 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale.
Babies R Us, 1122 Fort Union Blvd., Midvale.
Walgreens, 2330 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale.
Big Lots, 5650 S. 900 E., Murray.
B&B Auto Body/Paint, 4460 S. 500 W., Murray.
Cheesecake Factory, 6223 S. State St., Murray.
DEX Media, 5295 S. 300W, Murray.
Discount Tire, 120 E. 4500 South, Murray.
Family Dollar, 6150 S. 1300 East, Murray.
Discount Tire, 6180 S. Van Winkle Blvd., Holladay.
Brighton Ski resort, 12601 Big Cottonwood Road, Brighton.
Family Dollar, 3320 S. 1300 E., Millcreek.
King Arthur West Jordan, 1440 W. 7800 South, West Jordan.
Kmart, 1442 West 9000 South, West Jordan.
Larry H. Miller Toyota, 5800 S. State St., Murray.
Spring Mobile, 6191 S. State St., No. 1745, Murray.
Spring Mobile, 912 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale.
Spring Mobile, 3943A S. Wasatch Blvd., Millcreek.
TLC Laser Eye Center, 6440 S. Wasatch Blvd., Suite 340, Cottonwood Heights.
Toys R Us, 5968 S. State St., Murray.
U Store It, 4640 S. 900 East, Murray.
All American Quick Lube, 4650 S. Constitution Blvd., Taylorsville.
Toys R Us, 3550 W. Constitution Blvd, West Valley.
Walgreens, 5630 W. 4100 South, West Valley.
Walgreens, 4040 W. 5415 South, Taylorsville.
Walgreens, 4668 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville.
ATK Launch Systems, 5000 S. 8400 W., Magna.
Stor n Lok, 4430 S. Redwood Road, West Valley.
Discount Tire, 3665 W. 5400 S., West Valley.
Discount Tire, 2999 S. Eagle Drive 5600 W., West Valley.
Big Lots, 4041 W. 5415 South, Kearns.
Emerald Court, 4000 S. Redwood Road, West Valley.
Family Dollar, 1649 W. 4200 South, Taylorsville.
Honk's, 3938 W. 3500 South, West Valley.
Just Add Coffee, 5578 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville.
Kmart, 1770 W. 4100 South, West Valley.
ShopKo, 4850 W. 3500 South, West Valley.
SLCC, 4600 S. Redwood Road, West Valley.
Walmart, 4570 S. 4000 West, West Valley.
Walmart, 5675 W. 6200 South, West Valley.
To donate, place a new, unwrapped toy in a collection bin at participating businesses. A list can be found at www.toysfortots.org. You can also donate money toward the purchase of a toy online at the same Web address.
To request a toy for a child go to www.toysfortots.org, locate the coordinator in your area and send an e-mail that includes a mailing address, phone and fax number.
Between now and Dec. 20, The Tribune each week will profile an organization that helps people in need.
A list of more organizations seeking seasonal donations is available online at www.sltrib.com.
