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This Is Kull In Its Own Way
Fire Officials Left With Excess Of Presents
Donations Exceed Need This Year
POSTED: 4:53 pm EST December 27, 2006
UPDATED: 7:10 pm EST December 27, 2006
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. -- Two days after Christmas and Santa apparently still has stops to make. That's because the Toys For Tots program sponsored by the U.S. Marines ended up with more donated presents than it could handle this year, leaving firefighters in Prince George's County with an abundance of donated toys.
"They had such a tremendous amount of donations throughout the course of the year to themselves, they didn't need any of our toys," said Mark Brady of the Prince George's County Fire Department.
In fact, officials said, the fire department ended up with about 10,000 extra toys that it did not need -- everything from basketballs to board games to an array of stuffed animals.
Staff members are now shelling out the presents to local charities, hoping to get them to children in need.
"They're in here today on their own time helping to put these toys together in different age and gender groups to make sure they get distributed properly," said Brady.
Helping with the distribution are people like Evelyn Young of Landover Hills Fire Auxiliary. Young said she knows of dozens of kids who did not have a very merry Christmas and would love to receive a gift -- even if it is a belated one.
"We had to go in our pockets and shop at the dollar store. And we had presents in here up to the ceiling ... I was just notified about an hour ago," she said.
It is a problem most charitable organizations would probably love to have -- too many donations to handle.
"We're going to do the best we can as far as trying to get them out to the needy between now and the end of the week," said Young. "I mean this is totally ridiculous."
It is a problem many recipients probably won't have trouble dealing with either. In fact, Brady said the situation may better prepare them for next year.
"We might be better prepared next year in the fact that the Marines may not need as many toys and we can identify more families throughout Prince George's County that are in need and make sure they get their toys first," said Brady.
"I'll just tell them Santa came late this year," said Young.
Copyright 2006 by nbc4.com.
Donations Exceed Need This Year
POSTED: 4:53 pm EST December 27, 2006
UPDATED: 7:10 pm EST December 27, 2006
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. -- Two days after Christmas and Santa apparently still has stops to make. That's because the Toys For Tots program sponsored by the U.S. Marines ended up with more donated presents than it could handle this year, leaving firefighters in Prince George's County with an abundance of donated toys.
"They had such a tremendous amount of donations throughout the course of the year to themselves, they didn't need any of our toys," said Mark Brady of the Prince George's County Fire Department.
In fact, officials said, the fire department ended up with about 10,000 extra toys that it did not need -- everything from basketballs to board games to an array of stuffed animals.
Staff members are now shelling out the presents to local charities, hoping to get them to children in need.
"They're in here today on their own time helping to put these toys together in different age and gender groups to make sure they get distributed properly," said Brady.
Helping with the distribution are people like Evelyn Young of Landover Hills Fire Auxiliary. Young said she knows of dozens of kids who did not have a very merry Christmas and would love to receive a gift -- even if it is a belated one.
"We had to go in our pockets and shop at the dollar store. And we had presents in here up to the ceiling ... I was just notified about an hour ago," she said.
It is a problem most charitable organizations would probably love to have -- too many donations to handle.
"We're going to do the best we can as far as trying to get them out to the needy between now and the end of the week," said Young. "I mean this is totally ridiculous."
It is a problem many recipients probably won't have trouble dealing with either. In fact, Brady said the situation may better prepare them for next year.
"We might be better prepared next year in the fact that the Marines may not need as many toys and we can identify more families throughout Prince George's County that are in need and make sure they get their toys first," said Brady.
"I'll just tell them Santa came late this year," said Young.
Copyright 2006 by nbc4.com.
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