Santa wears a gun and a badge

Troutdale effort nets 62 barrels of donated toys

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Dec 5, 2009, Updated Dec 7, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Toys for Tots volunteers man blue barrels at the Wood Village Wal-Mart as they rapidly fill with donated toys destined for children of less-fortunate families in East County. Donations will be accepted through Sunday, Dec. 20.

Jim Clark / The Outlook

Consumers may be spending less than in previous years, but when it comes to toys, East County shoppers have more than a touch of Santa Claus in them this season.

Barely a week after the Troutdale Toys for Tots program started, volunteers at the Wood Village Wal-Mart have collected a record 62 barrels full of donated new toys for economically disadvantaged children.

Fifty-three of those barrels were filled on the “Black Friday” shopping weekend of Nov. 27 through Nov. 29.

For Mike and Kathy Goss, who volunteer through Troutdale’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, the outpouring of generosity is nothing short of inspiring.

“Even though we’re having tough times,” Mike Goss says, “people are saying ‘I’m going to make sure this kid gets a present this year.’ That’s very cool.”

Standing by a group of blue barrels spilling over with Barbie dolls, teddy bears and Hot Wheels Matchbox cars on Friday afternoon, Dec. 4, Cathy Goss was similarly impressed.

“It’s interesting that even though the economy is doing poorly, people are still wanting to give,” she says.

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