Toys for Tots takes hit from Toys R Us closing
/ AP
When Toys R Us closed, Toys for Tots felt the loss.
The toy giant's decision to close its stores this year left some huge holes for the annual charity drive to fill.
Toys R Us shoppers donated more than 250,000 toys last year and the company gave $5 million in corporate contributions – 40 percent of all corporate giving to the Marine Corps community effort.
The company's 800 stores usually had boxes near the doors where customers could toss a toy on their way out. They also took monetary donations.
From Florida to Spokane, Washington, several Toys for Tots campaigns say the closures hurt. In Orlando, for example, donations were down 25 percent. In Bakersfield, California, the local group reported being 10,000 toys down earlier this month.
Cherrie Carney, assistant director for the Atlanta campaign, said her city needed 268,000 more toys earlier this week. She said donations collected at local Toys R Us stores would fill a large tractor-trailer or more each year.
"We are hopeful that all of our contributors just went somewhere else, got a toy from Kroger or Publix … Target or Walmart since Toys R Us is not available," she said.
Toys for Tots national spokesman Ted Silvester said losing Toys R Us was a "tough pill." But he said other corporate sponsors such as Hasbro, Disney and Build-A-Bear helped fill the void while Marine units asked the public for more individual donations. In some cities it's too late to donate toys this year, but monetary donations are accepted to buy last-minute gifts.
Silvester said while it won't be known until next month whether the Toys R Us closure resulted in an overall drop nationally in presents donated, numerous cities like New York and Detroit required additional toys. So did regions hit by disasters this year, such as Northern California and the Carolinas.
He said the national Toys for Tots Foundation assists any of the 809 local drives that need additional gifts. Toys for Tots distributed 18 million toys to 7 million children across the U.S. last year.
"The loss of Toys R Us hurt but we hope we will be able to meet the needs of all the families this holiday season," Silvester said.
Toys R Us closed in June after filing for bankruptcy last year, unable to compete with online retailers and discount stores like Target and Walmart. More than 30,000 workers lost jobs.
First published on December 21, 2018
© 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Mac Thornberry says military funds shouldn't go to wall
Congress needs to "adequately fund border security," Thornberry told Major Garrett on "The Takeout" this week, as a partial government shutdown threatens in the weekend before Christmas
updated 2M ago 
Toys for Tots takes hit from Toys R Us closing
Donations in some areas down 25 percent from last year, though some other corporate sponsors are trying to help make up the difference
updated 3M ago 
In esports, players burn out young
"It's a whole other level of stress," one player told us. By their mid-20s, many have burned out
5H ago 
CBS News poll: Most Americans don't support building the wall
Fifty-nine percent of Americans oppose building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico
7H ago 
Pentagon ordered to begin planning troop drawdown in Afghanistan
The news broke the same day Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced he will depart the Trump administration
8H ago
Mac Thornberry says military funds shouldn't go to wall
Congress needs to "adequately fund border security," Thornberry told Major Garrett on "The Takeout" this week, as a partial government shutdown threatens in the weekend before Christmas
updated 2M ago
CBS News poll: Most Americans don't support building the wall
Fifty-nine percent of Americans oppose building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico
7H ago
Pentagon ordered to begin planning troop drawdown in Afghanistan
The news broke the same day Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced he will depart the Trump administration
8H ago 
House passes spending bill, increasing likelihood of shutdown
Trump said Thursday that he would not sign the Senate bill passed one day earlier because it did not contain funding for a border wall
6H ago 
Ex-Senate Intel security chief sentenced for lying to FBI
James Wolfe pleaded guilty in October to one count of lying to the FBI
9H ago 
London's Gatwick Airport reopens after drones-related shutdown
Security increased after drones sightings prompted closing that affected tens of thousands of passengers during busy holiday season
1H ago 
Tourists' alleged attackers pledged allegiance to ISIS
The victims' bodies were found by other tourists in a remote region where they were camping
10H ago 
U.S. colleges pull sportswear tied to Chinese detention camps
Campus stores in Texas, Maine and Indiana among those suspending sales of Badger Sportswear linked to forced labor in China
12H ago 
Military to be deployed as drones shut down Gatwick Airport
The prospect of a deadly collision between the rogue drones and an airliner led British authorities to stop all flights
15H ago 
U.S. ally in Syria warns troop pullout will lead to ISIS resurgence
"The war against terrorism has not ended and [ISIS] has not been defeated," Syrian Democratic Forces said
17H ago 
Review: In stunning "Cold War," love and music attempt to surmount Iron Curtain
Oscar-winner Pawel Pawlikowski's post-WWII romance between a sultry chanteuse and her musical director depicts the clash between politics and a passionate, artistic life force
updated 2M ago 
Jay-Z reportedly discouraging Scott from Super Bowl gig
Travis Scott is said to be in talks to play with Maroon 5 at the Super Bowl halftime show in Atlanta
12H ago 
See the first trailer for "Men in Black" sequel
The new trailer shows Tessa Thompson's character's induction as Agent M
14H ago 
See the first trailer for "Hellboy" reboot
Get ready for lots of punching by the right hand of doom
14H ago 
Netflix announces "To All the Boys" sequel
Lana Condor revealed one thing she wanted for Christmas: "I get to tell the fans about our little secret"
16H ago 
In esports, players burn out young
"It's a whole other level of stress," one player told us. By their mid-20s, many have burned out
5H ago 
Experts: Don't send sensitive info on Facebook Messenger
"I would not trust Facebook with any of my information in a million years," one cybersecurity expert told CBS News
14H ago 
Amazon sent 1,700 Alexa recordings to wrong customer
Man who reportedly never used the company's virtual assistant received 1,700 recordings it had made of a stranger
18H ago 
Companies use VR to train employees for hostage situations, robberies
"VR takes your brain elsewhere…. It's basically like visualization on steroids"
20H ago 
Addicted to your smartphone? How track your screen time
Apple and Google both have tools to help you manage your screen time on mobile devices
Dec 19 
Americans aren't getting taller, but are getting heavier
A new report highlights a growing trend in U.S. waistlines
10H ago 
Healthiest and least healthy states of 2018
Check where your state stands in the new report's ranking
15H ago 
Wegmans pulls cauliflower rice, stir fry mixes on E. coli fears
Grocery chain sold possibly tainted products this month in produce departments at nearly 100 stores in six states
17H ago 
NYC bill would let patients of abusive doctors amend birth certificates
A New York City Council member said the bill was inspired by a woman who wants a sex offender former doctor removed from her twins' birth certificates
15H ago 
Father fights to legalize marijuana in bid to help son
"We just want a chance to prove and to show that cannabis has medical properties and cannabis can help patients and kids like Jagger"
Dec 19
Toys for Tots takes hit from Toys R Us closing
Donations in some areas down 25 percent from last year, though some other corporate sponsors are trying to help make up the difference
updated 3M ago 
The mystery of Hershey's Kisses missing tips
Bakers are complaining that the kisses' trademark tips have been missing from batches around the country, ruining the look of holiday treats
updated 39M ago
U.S. colleges pull sportswear tied to Chinese detention camps
Campus stores in Texas, Maine and Indiana among those suspending sales of Badger Sportswear linked to forced labor in China
12H ago 
Rising interest rates? Not for savers
Even as the Fed keeps hiking, rates on savings accounts at big banks remain in the basement
13H ago 
Dow falls below 23,000 for first time in 14 months
After years of easy money, investors are spooked by rising interest rates and slowing U.S. growth
6H ago 
Unsealed documents reveal new details about Mollie Tibbetts investigation
Four men were the subject of police interest at times during the five-week search for the Iowa student, the AP reports
14H ago 
Deputy kills family, confesses over radio before turning gun on himself
The Florida school officer killed three relatives including his granddaughter, 6, before killing himself, sheriff says
Dec 19 
Redskins safety charged with assault for fight caught on video
Police say Montae Nicholson and his girlfriend were involved in an argument that escalated into a physical assault
Dec 19 
Senate passes bipartisan criminal justice bill
Senate voted Tuesday night to approve a sweeping criminal justice overhaul supported by President Trump
Dec 19 
Woman in New York fights back, prevents her car from being stolen
Bronx mother Tihisha Jones gets street justice after stopping a suspected car thief in his tracks — and it was all caught on camera
Dec 18
