Without last minute toy donations, requests for toys from many York County families in need may go unfilled this year.  With less than a week to go until Christmas, the toy tables at Toys For Happiness’ warehouse on Flint Street Extension in Rock Hill are nearly barren.

In fact, the warehouse is out of toys for infants and for children ages 9 to 14. “And the few toys the program does have for the 3 to 8 age group isn’t enough to fill the remaining requests for that group,” said Beth Covington, director of marketing and communications for the United Way of York County.

Toys for Happiness, a charity created by WRHI radio and the United Way of York County that allows families meeting eligibility requirements to submit a wish list for their children ages infant through 14,  has filled the stocking of 1,914 children.  Unfortunately, there are still 377 children that will be without toys Christmas morning if things don’t change quickly.

Certainly the economy has something to do with the shortages as requests for toys is up 32%, yet donation totals are down from previous years.

If you’re interested in taking donations to Toys for Happiness, I’m trying to find out where you can take them and will post the information here just as soon as I do.  In the meantime, I would suggest calling the United Way of York County and asking them what you can do to help with this situation.

You can read the entire article by Mary J Balasco in today’s Rock Hill Herald.