PARKERSBURG – Despite collecting more than 24,000 toys, there were some gaps in what was collected in the annual Wood County Toys for Tots drive.

Cliff Hecker, coordinator of Wood County Toys for Tots for the last 21 years, said the last-minute purchases allow the toy drive organizers to follow the motto of the program.

“The motto of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program is ‘We are here to supplement Christmas just to make sure every child gets a little Christmas.’ We’re here to help families as a pick-me-up, so to speak.”

During Saturday’s toy distribution at Grace Gospel Church, Hecker said some volunteers had to go and buy some additional items, specifically those for boys and girls ages 10-12.

“Every year we always run low in that group,” he said. “In that 10- to 12-year-old group, boys and girls, we are always lacking. When they get to be that age, it’s very difficult to buy for them.”

Hecker said when people buy items to give to the program, they do not buy music because they do not know what they listen to and there are other items older children might like but they cannot guess if it is what a particular child would be able to use. As a result, most donations are toys more appropriate for younger ages.

Hecker said they did manage to collect a huge amount, almost like a mountain, in stuffed animals.

“We got a huge donation,” he said. “We are going to help out the police department with those where they give them out when they go to domestic disputes. We’ve got cases of those.

“It’s still doing the same thing, It’s just not at Christmas.”

Hecker said volunteers started at 8:30 a.m. Friday moving all the collected items to the activity center of the church in Pettyville in preparation for Saturday’s distribution work.

“It took about 12 hours to unload everything and get it sorted out,” he said. “We were here Friday night for another seven hours sorting and packing bags.

“It’s a never-ending thing.”

Hecker said volunteers were back at 7:30 a.m. Saturday to continue packing bags based on gender and age. The goal was to give toys to 15 families every 15 minutes.

Hecker said a group started eight years ago, called the Clearing House, screens applicants to the program to make sure they are able to help as many people as possible.

“It’s where the Salvation Army, Children’s Home Society, Community Resources and Community Action in Marietta, to compare those we are helping,” he said. “That way we are helping as many people as possible and people aren’t getting the same thing from everybody. It works out very well.”

Hecker said Toys for Tots had signed up 740 families. The selected families were told to come to the church for pickup, since the local campaign does not have the resources to deliver toys to the families.

Hecker said there are a few bags that were picked specifically for children with special needs.

“These have things for kids with autism that don’t have flashing lights or loud sounds,” he said. “We put those aside and we have some where a child may be 11 but has the mental capacity of a 4-year-old, so want to make sure it has things that are appropriate.”

Hecker said the application starts online and families can request specific items, but there are no guarantees they will get those items.

“If we can accommodate it, we try bur there are no guarantees,” he said.

Two parents, who declined to give their names, said they were thankful Toys for Tots exists.

“It’s a wonderful thing for families that don’t have the means,” said a grandmother from Parkersburg. “A lot of them are single parents who are living from pay check to pay check.”

A mother from Parkersburg said it helps many families in the area.

“I’m getting toys for my son, it helps out a lot,” she said. “It helps out a lot of families.”