LEWISTOWN — The white boxes are back — bright, unmistakable, and hopeful. For the sixth straight year, Toys for Tots is rallying Mifflin County around one simple promise: that every child, no matter their circumstances, should wake up to a gift on Christmas morning.

The local campaign, coordinated by the Marine Corps Reserve and led by the Rev. John Harwood of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, is underway once again. The effort has become a fixture of the holiday season here, a reminder that generosity still fuels this community even when times are tight. Last year, Toys for Tots helped about 360 families and 766 children in the county, providing everything from bicycles and basketballs to Lego sets, books and warm winter clothes.

This year, Harwood expects the need to grow. Inflation, higher utility bills, and food costs have strained many local households. “I won’t even talk about the problem with SNAP benefits or inflation,” Harwood said. “But these are elements that lead me to think that many more families will need assistance this year.” The program serves children from birth to age 18 in families that meet income requirements, including those being raised by grandparents or foster parents.

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, inspired by his wife Diane, collected 5,000 toys for children in Los Angeles. A year later, the U.S. Marine Corps adopted the idea nationwide. Walt Disney designed the train logo that still appears on donation boxes today. Since then, the program has distributed more than 708 million toys to 314 million children across the country, including a record-breaking 30 million toys to nearly 13 million children in 2024.

For Harwood, those national numbers are impressive — but the local stories are what matter. “The generosity of people in this community and our many wonderful volunteers make this possible,” he said. “The toys collected here will be distributed here.”

Across Mifflin County, more than 30 collection boxes have been placed in churches, businesses, and schools. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off until Dec. 12, with distribution to families scheduled for Dec. 18. “It’s not too late for a business or church to request a collection box,” Harwood said. “Just contact me, and we’ll make sure they’re included.”

The local campaign depends heavily on both community partners and individual donors. Harwood has sent dozens of letters to area businesses urging them to host donation boxes, organize toy drives, or contribute financially. “In these challenging economic times, many families in Mifflin County are facing difficult choices between basic necessities and holiday gifts,” he wrote in one of those letters. “Rising costs for housing, groceries, and healthcare have

stretched household budgets to the breaking point, leaving many parents and grandparents heartbroken that they cannot provide the Christmas magic their children deserve.”

That plea isn’t just about gifts–it’s about restoring a sense of belonging. “Your participation doesn’t just provide toys,” Harwood wrote. “It sends a powerful message to struggling families that their community cares about them. It shows children that they haven’t been forgotten.”

Harwood and his volunteers are bracing for another busy December. They expect long days sorting donations, organizing distribution, and making sure every box reaches the right family. Volunteers are welcome to help during the week of December 15-18, when hundreds of toys will be arranged and packed for delivery. “If people would like to volunteer, please reach out to me,” Harwood said. “We always need extra hands.”

The generosity doesn’t stop with toys. Some residents who can’t shop for gifts choose to write checks instead. Harwood uses those funds to buy toys on behalf of the donors. “We received a large check last year from a family in Harrisburg,” he said. “Every bit helps.”

While much of the focus is on toys, the deeper purpose of Toys for Tots has always been about hope. It began as an act of kindness–one Marine family’s small gesture that sparked a national movement. Seventy-seven years later, that same spirit endures in places like Lewistown, where people still believe in the simple power of giving.

For those looking to help, the process is easy. Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at any of the participating businesses or churches before Dec. 12. Businesses or organizations that wish to host a collection box or volunteer for distribution can contact Harwood at jtharwood@comcast.net or (814) 571-0687. Financial donations can also be arranged through him.

Every toy, Harwood said, tells a story of compassion–a basketball that reminds a child someone cares, a book that sparks imagination, a stuffed animal that becomes a treasured companion. “Together, we can ensure that every child in Mifflin County experiences the wonder and joy of Christmas morning,” he said.

After all, the holidays in Mifflin County aren’t defined by the size of the tree or the number of presents under it, but by the quiet kindness that fills those white boxes year after year.