DERBY — TEAM, Inc. is kicking off its annual Toys4Kids drive earlier than ever this year, hoping to deliver smiles and a sack full of toys to Valley children in need this holiday season.
Due to the many rippling effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including uncertainties with the supply chain, TEAM’s Executive President/CEO David Morgan said starting the toy drive sooner than later is a must.
The drive kicked off Oct. 1, with Morgan posting a 1‑minute video to Facebook to get the word out. That video is embedded at the top of this story.
“We knew we had to get an even earlier start to be positioned in helping the many children and families that need this help the most,” Morgan said.
The non-profit agency is again appealing to the public’s generosity to make a donation to ensure Valley boys and girls, who otherwise might go without, find something to open under their Christmas trees this year.
Information on how to make a donation can be found online at https://teaminc.org/toys-4-kids-2021.
Morgan said the Toys4Kids drive is the largest such holiday toy drive in the region. It benefited more than 1,650 Valley kids in need last year alone. Morgan said there was a 34 percent increase last year in families participating. That’s because of COVID-19’s economic impact.
Learn more about Toys4Kids by visiting https://teaminc.org/toys-4-kids-2021/
“The increase was clearly driven by COVID-19 last year, with too many people out of work, swimming through a struggling economy and trying to juggle so many basic needs and quality of life commitments, layered upon the stress of holiday giving for their children,” Morgan said. “Together we must conquer any and all obstacles brought upon by COVID-19, and with everyone’s help, we will make magic happen this December for more than 1,600 children.”
For more than 25 years, TEAM has been working to ensure families don’t have to choose between putting food on the table or buying holiday gifts for their kids.
Morgan said the toy drive normally launches in early November, but starting earlier is essential to ensuring TEAM can purchase items from toy distributors and have them shipped in time for the holidays.
TEAM staffers will follow the same COVID-inspired protocols as last year, in having families complete an online application, rather than come in person to TEAM’s office.
TEAM employees will contact the families for verification purposes and also find out what their kids are wishing for this year. Times and dates for families to pick up the goodies will be provided.
Those who’d like more information can reach TEAM via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Here’s a 2‑minute video courtesy of Morgan that illustrates the COVID-19 modifications TEAM made from the ongoing weekly planning to the actual implementation and distribution of toys to families last year:
