A Watertown toy drive brings gifts to more than 1,000 children
A Watertown toy drive brings gifts to more than 1,000 children By 7 News Staff | December 23, 2020 at 7:17 PM EST - Updated December 23 at 7:17 PM
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) - So many toys, you couldnât see the gym floor!
Itâs the Watertown Salvation Armyâs largest giveaway of the year. Families were able to stop by the State Street location and pick up toys.
Donations looked to have doubled this year, so instead of putting smiles on the faces of 600 kids, this event helped 1,200 children!
Organizers say the community stepped up in a big way, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Salvation Armyâs Red Kettle donations are down
Salvation Army red kettles By Brendan Straub | December 9, 2020 at 4:14 PM EST - Updated December 10 at 7:15 AM
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) - Salvation Army red kettles are emptier than what they usually are for this time of year.
The Salvation Army Empire State Division says donations are half of what they usually are at this point in December. Major Karen Smullen says money given to the Watertown Salvation Army are off by 30 percent and thatâs believed to be related to the pandemic.
âItâs hard not to worry, it really is, because we see the predictions not just here in Watertown, but in any location. There is some consolation in that too, that we know itâs not us not doing our best, right, that itâs just a statement of the situation we are in right now,â said Smullen.