Letter Carriers Give Santa A Hand

When postal carriers make their rounds Saturday, they will be hoping to pick up more than a few outgoing letters. Teddy bears, watches, games and even a football, baby doll or truck left at the box would make their day.

"We love it," said Kathy Sullivan of the Zephyrhills Post Office. As that location's union steward, she is responsible for helping organize the annual Letter Carriers Toy Drive, benefitting Toys for Tots of East Pasco. During the drive, anyone can leave new, unwrapped toys by their mailboxes and carriers will pick them up for delivery to Toys for Tots. Participating communities in central and east Pasco include Zephyrhills, Dade City, Land O' Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

Sullivan said carriers try to make donating as simple as possible for area residents. They even send out notices to all postal customers in participating areas to let them know the drive is coming up. It "gives them a chance to purchase toys ahead of time," she said. "This is such a worthwhile endeavor."

Now in its 10th year, the drive is vital for Toys for Tots of East Pasco, said Bob Loring, the nonprofit's organizer.

"We live or die on the postal drive," said Loring, adding that this year it is going to be even more important. "We doubled the amount of registrations we gave out."

Last year the organization provided toys for more than 3,000 children. Loring expects the need to top 4,000 this year. The East Pasco branch of Toys for Tots serves families in Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City and Lacoochee.

To make sure families in east and central Pasco have the toys they need for their children, Loring has set up the Toys for Tots drives on the community level. Each community under his direction has its own captain to lead efforts. This, Loring said, helps keep the efforts local and also makes it easy to ensure that toys collected in Land O' Lakes, for example, go to children who need them in Land O' Lakes.

"If someone hands me a toy, it's going to go to a kid in their area," Loring said.

Loring has led eastern and central Pasco efforts for 10 years now.

Toys for Tots of East Pasco helps families who can't afford holiday gifts for their children. It also works to provide them with socks, underwear and other essentials through the Skivvies For Tots program.

A few other programs work in conjunction with those two, Loring said, including a school supply drive in the late summer and a food drive. Families that receive assistance through any of the programs are recommended through guidance counselors at area schools, Loring said.

The Letter Carriers Toy Drive is an essential part of the organization's efforts to collect toys, Loring said. For her part, Sullivan said she couldn't be happier that the Suncoast district of the post office participates. The district includes Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

"Economically, it helps families who might not be able to provide toys for their children at Christmas," Sullivan said. "We are performing something that's so beneficial to these struggling families. It's such an easy way to give to people who need it the most - get a toy, walk out to the mailbox."

Toys are needed this year for infants through teenagers, Loring said. Teen and newborn items, in particular, are always in short supply, he added.

Sullivan is particularly fond of giving gifts to teens in need, saying they are often overlooked.

"When you hear 'toy drive,' sometimes the older kids are left out," she said. "We get tons of toys for little kids. I, myself, try to look out for a decent wallet for a teenage boy, a nice top for a girl, a watch."

The Letter Carriers Toy Drive will take place throughout the day Saturday as carriers work their normal routes. Items for the drive may be left beside mailboxes in bags or boxes.

To learn about the Pasco effort or to help, call Loring at (352) 588-4230 or visit www.toysfortotspasco.org.