Toys for the needy

Despite an economy in limbo and the recent blast of snowy weather, the Toys for Tots program continues to make the holidays special for children.

But donations are down, program officials said.

"We only got 27,000 items this year," said Ophelia Begay, co-coordinator. "That means we have to divide them up to about 1,200 or 1,300 for each (police) district."

In previous years, the Navajo Toys for Tots program has gotten as many as 70,000 donated items for distribution. But with the recession now affecting all areas, this year donations have been sparser.

"Right now, the priority is the needy families," Begay said. "We didn't have a good run this year."

The people power was still there, however, with 87 volunteers from the Navajo Nation to help with collection and distribution. Among the volunteers were police officers, corrections officers, rangers and Navajo Department of Transportation staff.

This year NDOT provided two semi-trucks that helped collect toys from California.

"We had good manpower but it was the (lack) of toys," Begay said.

Begay said district coordinators encouraged volunteers to do their best despite the low number of toys.

Three bunkers at Camp Navajo, west of Flagstaff, are storing 40,000 items left over from the previous year and volunteers planned to delve into the reserves this year. The plan had to be deferred thanks to a storm that left the former Army ordnance depot waist-deep in snow, and Toys for Tots coordinators decided to hold off until next year's toy run.

For now the coordinators are encouraging police officers that play Santa to target the neediest families first.

The gift items this year include toys, knitted hats, gloves, backpacks, duffel bags, makeup kits, curling irons, books and board games.

This marks Begay's 18th year with the toys program. Next month she will celebrate two decades of service with the Navajo Nation's Division of Public Safety.

Growing up in Wheatfields, Ariz., Begay said Christmas for her family included gifts though nothing like the abundance of the Toys for Tots program.

"It wasn't until I started with public safety that I realized that there are people that are needy," she said. "To me Christmas time is happiness and a lot of love. It brings me happiness to do this for children."

The sudden look of excitement and shyness on the recipients' faces makes the collecting, traveling and distributing process all worthwhile, she said.

Volunteers who go to California foot their own travel expenses and use their vacation time to make the trip, Begay noted. With help from Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan and several council delegates and dignitaries, as well as local companies and organizations, it's a collaborative effort.

Police, social services and various other organizations assist in identifying families who could use the help to make Christmas happy for their little ones.

Navajo police officers will begin making home visits to give out the toys starting today and continuing through the week.

Back to top ^