This holiday season, organizations, schools, businesses and community residents banded together to put smiles on the faces of Beaufort County’s less fortunate children.

Through the Toys for Tots of Beaufort County drive, around 90 boxes of toys were collected, with each box containing approximately 30 toys, according to an estimate by Rich Morin, county coordinator for Toys for Tots.

Morin said donations were at an all-time high this year, well exceeding the needs of the county’s less-privileged children. This year, around 750 children in Beaufort County alone need toys for Christmas, with another 250 children between Washington, Tyrrell and Hyde counties.

“We had tremendous community support,” Morin said. “The community realizes we have so many needs in our county. We have underemployment, high unemployment rates — just a lot of families suffering in our area, particularly. I think we have a chip on our shoulders in Beaufort County, and I think we take it to a different level. We have caring people in this community, and I think that speaks to the success we’ve had in this area. For me, where I get a big rush, it’s just so much fun to visit these different companies and groups and just everyone is so excited and in such great spirits. There’s so much generosity. It’s heart-warming.”

Toys for Tots, though discussed at the beginning of each new year, really kicks off in September and brings many different helping hands together for a successful toy drive. Not only does the program encompass the collection of toys, but it also includes administrative process, Morin said.

Among the duties to make the program possible include an application and vetting process carried out by the Beaufort/Hyde Partnership for Children, sorting and storing collected toys by staff and congregational members of St. Peters Episcopal Church, support from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in collecting and unloading toys and boxes to collect the toys, provided by the Washington (noon) Rotary, according to Morin.

“There are too many (players) to thank at this point,” Morin said. “Toys for Tots is a very key element in bringing a smile to children in our area that may have very little reason to smile. The groups coordinate so well together. If any one of those groups fell down or was a weak link, it would impact the whole program. It’s so much fun to see the faces of people in these groups collecting toys. They’re faces of such pride and satisfaction. The fact they’re contributing to the program — people are so happy and fulfilled to participate in providing toys for these kids.”

However, Morin said there is always room for improvement. Next year, the organization hopes to locate and name a local retired, active or reservist Marine to be the spokesperson for the local drive. Also, Morin hopes more families in need will come forward to be considered as beneficiaries of the program.

“In addition, we’re open to suggestions and requests to be considered for next year’s campaign,” Morin said.

To make suggestions for next year’s program, contact Rich Morin by email at morin.richard@gmail.com.