I-Team: Trouble in Toyland?
By: Joe Holden
Updated: December 15, 2010
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County - The I-Team is looking into the lack of Toys for Tots donation boxes in Luzerne County. Regular drop off spots, including WBRE-TV, were not given donation boxes this year, even after we called for one. That peaked the curiosity of the I-Team's Joe Holden and sparked a big response from the community.
Ann Marie McCawley from Catholic Social Services has been sick. More than 2,000 children depend on gifts from her agency, provided by the Toys for Tots program. After weeks of calling the marines, she had heard nothing. “I can't tell you what my stomach feels like. I really can't,” McCawley tells the I-Team.
McCawley is in a real fix. 2,000 children and not enough presents. She says the marines in Wyoming, who oversee the county's Toys for Tots program, at first, wrote her off, and questioned if Catholic Social Services was even a non-profit.
This is McCawley's 24th year doing this, and the first time this has happened. “You know, I don't want to put blame on anybody, I just think they're very, you know, haven't gotten it organized this year as well as they have in the past,” she says..
The I-Team first contacted the marines in Wyoming Tuesday night. They dismissed our questions about a decrease in the popular donation boxes.
In a follow-up phone call on Wednesday, a marine sergeant said they're working to meet demands and was surprised that we were receiving complaints.
But McCawley says she's been calling the marines for weeks and had not heard as much as a word. Right now, there are about 1,000 toys to go around. “We really do need a lot more toys because as I said, we have 2,038 children that we're giving toys to and it's a big responsibility on my part and I just hope that we're able to give the child at least one toy,” she says.
If you’d like to help Catholic Social Services you can drop off toys at 39 Jackson Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Ann Marie McCawley from Catholic Social Services has been sick. More than 2,000 children depend on gifts from her agency, provided by the Toys for Tots program. After weeks of calling the marines, she had heard nothing. “I can't tell you what my stomach feels like. I really can't,” McCawley tells the I-Team.
McCawley is in a real fix. 2,000 children and not enough presents. She says the marines in Wyoming, who oversee the county's Toys for Tots program, at first, wrote her off, and questioned if Catholic Social Services was even a non-profit.
This is McCawley's 24th year doing this, and the first time this has happened. “You know, I don't want to put blame on anybody, I just think they're very, you know, haven't gotten it organized this year as well as they have in the past,” she says..
The I-Team first contacted the marines in Wyoming Tuesday night. They dismissed our questions about a decrease in the popular donation boxes.
In a follow-up phone call on Wednesday, a marine sergeant said they're working to meet demands and was surprised that we were receiving complaints.
But McCawley says she's been calling the marines for weeks and had not heard as much as a word. Right now, there are about 1,000 toys to go around. “We really do need a lot more toys because as I said, we have 2,038 children that we're giving toys to and it's a big responsibility on my part and I just hope that we're able to give the child at least one toy,” she says.
If you’d like to help Catholic Social Services you can drop off toys at 39 Jackson Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Comments
Joe, I'm very disappointed to see your story about the Tots for Tots programs. Does Ms McCawley or yourself realize that most of the Marines servicing in the Wyoming Reserve unit have been called to duty and are serving our country over seas. This has left the unit extremely short handed....they don't have enough help. I think if catholic social services would like to distribute toys on behalf of their organization they need to start asking and collecting for them themselves! Possibly they could ask the needy children's parents to lend a helping hand to our Marines whom I feel are doing a great job under the circumstances. Thank you, Mother of a 19 year old catholic school graduate serving his country in the Marine Corp!
Sonia J.
December 15, 2010 at 11:48 pm
This is a one-sided report. This woman may need help, but using the media and speaking poorly of the marines in the area who make Toys for Tots happen is a shameful attempt to gain sympathy from the people. (what WBRE won't say is that this woman's concerns were resolved before the news got involved). If you look around, other Toys for Tots groups are also low on toys. I really think WBRE owes the marines in Wyoming a little more respect (and an apology) and should get the truth before putting out a story like this. I'm embarrassed for your news station. As for the boxes, they don't grow on trees...they can't give them to everyone on demand. That's why places like Wegmans MAKES THEIR OWN BOX. Having an official toys for tots box is not the only way to collect toys. There is no story here. I hope WBRE values their credibility as a news station more and updates this story to the credit of our marines in Wyoming.
TXGal T.
December 15, 2010 at 11:40 pm
