Toys for Tots in need of help to find a new home

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Toys for Tots began in 1947 when a Marine Corps Reserve major donated dolls made by his wife to less fortunate children.

The idea grew and became a national community action program the next year and is still growing. Toys for Tots in Clarksville started in 2008 with the program being taken over by the late Michael Kohler, a retired Marine.

Jo Kohler is the community organizer for Toys for Tots in Clarksville and took over when her husband passed away in 2013. Kohler said they help more than 1,000 families every year.

Kohler said the organization now needs a new home for their operation.

“We need a location that we can collect, sort and do the distribution of toys out of, at least 2,000 square feet if not larger site. Something of a warehouse type building would be best,” Kohler said.

The space that Toys for Tots has been using for the past three years is being rented.

Kohler said it would be a blessing if someone could donate a site that would allow Toys for Tots to be able to have more money to buy toys for children with the financial donations they receive.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out some families who are in need who may not have been in years past, and of course we try to help everybody that we can.

“The general public was very generous last year in donations, so we were able to help all of the families and have a little bit of a stockpile so we’re not starting from scratch, which is really great and will let us help more people this year,” said Kohler.

Kohler said each year their official donations campaign runs from Oct. 1 through Christmas Eve, but the organization does accept monetary and new toy donations year-round.

To show your support for Toys for Tots by providing a location to allow them to continue their work, to make monetary or toy donations, visit toysfortots.org, email [email protected], or call Jo Kohler at 931-980-5889.