Howard County Toys for Tots: 'We're Hurting'

No one wants the kids to be let down, but it might happen this year.

With Christmas just 16 days away, Toys for Tots organizers are hoping donations step up so no requests for gifts go unanswered.

"We're hurting," Sgt. Johnny Kline of the U.S. Marine Corps said Thursday. "We have 25,000 toys to date and a little more than 75,000 toys have been requested."

The deadline to request toys was Dec. 5, but requests are still coming in, Kline said.

The Marines will give out toys until they're gone, and every effort will be made to accommodate late requests, but the campaign is far from having enough toys to meet the demand expressed before the deadline, Kline said.

Locally, several businesses and organizations are participating in Toys for Tots.

The Long and Foster real estate office in Columbia is a drop-off spot for toys.

Administrative assistant Judy Devereaux said Thursday that she's hoping donations pick up soon.

"We have a decent amount, but I'd love to see more," she said. "More is better."

Residents can drop off toys to the Long and Foster office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week, through Dec. 15.

The of Long and Foster is also collecting toys.

Donations can be dropped at the Clarksville office (12345 Wake Forest Road) and the Sykesville office (25 Liberty Road) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week through Dec. 15, according to marketing director Laura Reese.

"We take giving back to our community very seriously," Reese said of the office's charitable effort. "We are the No. 1 Long and Foster team in the nation, and we wanted to step up and set an example for other teams."

At least 75 toys have been collected at the Clarksville office, Reese said. Employees are being encouraged to donate toys at the group's annual holiday party next week, and organizers hope to collect at least 300 toys.

Visitors to Symphony of Lights can get in on the giving action as well.

Anyone donating a toy at the entrance Dec. 9 will receive a $5 reduction on the price of admission.

Kline said he hopes the Marines won't have to disappoint any children in the region. He coordinates the effort for Baltimore city and Baltimore, Howard and Carroll counties.

Any cash donations received are used to buy toys from suppliers who offer discounted prices. Kline said the group has already spent $40,000, and still has a long way to go before the campaign ends Dec. 16.

"With 25,000 toys collected and bought, and we need 75,000, we're just at 33 percent of what we need," he said. "We really need people to step up — we really need help."

According to the local Toys for Tots website, new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the following locations in Columbia:

SAIC (multiple locations):
7120 Columbia Gateway Drive
6841 Benjamin Frankling Drive
7080 and 7090 Columbia Gateway Drive
7035 Albert Einstein Drive
Contact: Christy Balisle or Kit Chanthavongsor, 571-244-1551

Weichert Realtors - New Colony
6925 Oakland Mills Road, Suite A
Contact: Erin Phelps or Mary Beth Brown, 410-381-3331

Liberty Property Trust
9755 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 350
Contact: Wendy Hart, 410-715-3333

Giant Columbia 300
8805 Centre Park Drive
Contact: Debbie Sode, 443-364-5180


7226 Lee Deforest Drive, Suite 207
Contact: Kristina Carroll, 410-884-6100


9200 Route 108
Contact: Ron Elrod, 410-964-2262


10300 Hickory Ridge Road
Contact: Joanie Williams, 410-992-4499


10840 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 402
Contact: Carmen Negron-Wagman or Karyn Dulaney, 410-992-9753

Touchstone Physical Therapy and Wellness
8865 Stanford Blvd., Suite 114
Contact: Denise Mason-Tootle or Kelly Syles, 410-290-4480


5565 Sterrett Place, No. 105
Contact: Dorothy Walker or Kim Brady, 410-730-4800


6480 Freetown Road
Contact: Mike Sacchetti, 410-531-3752

James Hubert Blake Class of 2013
6149 Good Hunters Ride
Contact: Juliana Downey, 301-467-7185

Giant Columbia 155
7200 Cradlerock Way
Contact: Monica Murphy, 410-995-6893

Medifast Weight Control Center
5565 Sterrett Place
Contact: Sonya Hargress or Sabrina Dotsenko, 410-730-3861

Waterstone Mortgage
10632 Little Patuxent Parkway
Contact: Sherri Meisel or Carol Mason, 410-788-9100


10015 Old Columbia Road, Suite E-245
Contact: Blair, 410-381-7246


8924 McGaw Court
Contact: Gail Graham, 410-995-1195, ext. 1105


8870 McGaw Road
Contact: Tina McMorland or Eric Swann, 443-778-4686


7525 Murray Hill Road
Contact: Cheryl Brady or Lindsay Pape, 410-724-0220

CCS Presentation Systems
8901 Herrmann Drive
Contact: Jean Meares or Marco Korba, 410-290-9028

Verizon FiOS Retail Store
8835 Columbia 100 Parkway, Suite B
Contact: Sharon Simpson or Yeside Ajala, 703 399-6680