Riverdale Park Looking for Toy Donations for Needy Families

This Christmas may be a little harder for some Riverdale Park families, as they won't be receiving gifts from Santa unless some good Samaritans step up.

Over the years, the Town of Riverdale Park has partnered with the county's Toys for Tots program to collect and distribute gifts to some of the neediest families in town. However, this year, after a decrease in donations to the county's program, Toys for Tots cannot give any toys to non-profits, including the town. Riverdale Park was set to receive about 60 toys to give to about 100 local families.

Colleen Ferguson, with the town's code enforcement department, said she first started this program after she saw the need firsthand.

"I went into homes where they didn't have food or toys," Ferguson said. "So we started the food basket program and partnered with Toys for Tots."

Usually, she also gives a family's name to the , who with the help of business partners "spoil" the family that Christmas. This year, Ferguson gave them three families.

Nova Johns, with the Riverdale Fire Department, said the department has raised $2,000 to spend on those three families. But now with the lack of gifts from Toys for Tots, the fire department will use the money to get a small gift for every child who won't get a toy from Toys for Tots program and also for the families they are sponsoring.

"I'm going to go shopping Sunday, because we still need to wrap and pack the gifts," Johns said.

Ferguson said 103 families are in need of toys in town, and although they have collected 45 food baskets that they will distribute to families and seniors, without toys it won't be much of a Christmas.

"We were planning on handing out toys Tuesday, when Santa rides on a fire truck and delivers gifts to families," Ferguson said. "But now we need to figure out how we're going to get these gifts."

She said she knows many people have been affected by the recession, but the families in this program in some case are battling diseases, handicaps, poverty and have been completely displaced from their regular homes.

"Anything folks could donate would be greatly appreciated, whether its monetary or gifts themselves," Johns said.

Donations can be dropped off at the Riverdale Fire Department or at the police station over the weekend and can be dropped off at town hall Monday and Tuesday.

"What people donate will be the only thing these kids will get," Ferguson added.

To get more information or to donate call Colleen Ferguson at 301-356-8189 or Nova Johns at 301-648-1665.