'Toys for Tots' finds new home in Gaithersburg
Sep 29, 2024
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (DC News Now)--The annual Toys for Tots of Montgomery County program will happen this year after some uncertainty.
The organization has a new distribution warehouse, just about two weeks after it lost its previous location, which threatened to cancel this year's toy drive.
"There's no English word to describe how I feel right now," said Elizabeth Scott, the organization's organizer regarding the empty warehouse on Woodfield Road.
Realtor Peter Drury helped get the building after he heard about the situation from his girlfriend last week.
"I knew the owner would be good with this," said Drury. "I just went ahead and committed, and the owner was."
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The unidentified owner is a client and a member of the Baha'i Community of Montgomery County
Scott estimates Toys for Tots will help around 30,000 children this year, roughly 6,000 more from a year ago.
"Every child deserves a toy," said Josue Vargas, who has used Toys for Tots in the past. "You know, a toy means a lot to a little kid, even though we just think it's plastic."
Scott said she expects to move in to the building within two weeks after the paperwork is finalized.
Volunteers, according to Scott, are needed to sort out and gift wrap the new toys that will be collected from the end of October-December 17.