Labette County Toys for Tots

12/23/2025

I have had a few people reach out about not picking up toys. We will open for 3 hours tomorrow December 23 from 5-8. If you applied and did not pick up toys for whatever reason this will be the absolute last chance this year. After tomorrow evening we will not be responding to emails and messages. So please share with anyone you know that did not make it in.

12/21/2025

As a reminder this is our last day for distribution. If you have an appointment and don't show up for it there will be no other opportunity to get toys.

12/16/2025

Notification-
December 21st will be our final distribution date for this season. If you have been approved for assistance and are not yet scheduled, you must do so as soon as possible if you still need our help.

All submitted applications have been responded to. In many cases, approval emails have been sent up to three times. If you believe you applied and have not heard from us, please check your email (including spam/junk folders) and search for [email protected].

We have also had a significant number of no-shows, and many of those families have not rescheduled. Because of this, we will not be opening additional appointment slots until all currently available slots are filled.

Please only schedule an appointment if you are able to attend. This helps us make sure toys reach as many children as possible this holiday season. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

12/13/2025

Update/Edit- This community is awesome and we have had several people reach out. I am attaching the direct donation link for our campaign.
https://secure.toysfortots.org/a/donatelocal?campaign_code=KSALTO
We want to be transparent with our community. Due to a decrease in monetary donations and ongoing challenges in receiving gifts for older children, we may have to make the difficult decision to no longer accept registrations for children over the age of 12, similar to many other Toys for Tots campaigns.

Older children are the most impacted by donation shortages. Monetary donations allow us to shop for age-appropriate items and help ensure no child is left out.

If you are able, tax-deductible monetary donations make a huge difference and give us the flexibility to meet these specific needs. We are also in great need of new, unwrapped gifts suitable for teens and pre-teens, including:

• Makeup kits and skincare items
• Body wash, hygiene, or self-care sets (for girls and boys)
• Small tool kits or multi-tools
• Age-appropriate Nerf guns and accessories
• Blankets or throws
• Headphones or earbuds
• Remote-control cars
• Sports equipment (basketballs, footballs, soccer balls)
• Art supplies, sketch sets, or craft kits
• Board games or card games geared toward teens

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this program and help us bring joy to children in our community.

12/13/2025

We have about 39 applicants that have been approved but have not scheduled their pick up appointment. We are working on opening up some more time slots for those that haven't scheduled yet. That should be done later this evening. I will also resend the approval email to those that haven't scheduled. Please look for that email and get on the schedule.

12/10/2025

Please do your best not to miss your scheduled appointment. When someone doesn’t show up, it takes away a slot another family could have used. Rescheduling also uses additional appointment spaces, so it’s important to make any changes as early as possible so that someone else has the chance to fill the space.

We understand that true emergencies can happen. If an emergency comes up, please email us as soon as possible so we are aware you won't be in.
If you simply need to reschedule, please go to the Appointy site and make the change right away so that someone else can possibly fill the space.

No-shows are not acceptable. Beginning immediately, families who no-show will not be allowed to reschedule until all other applicants have been scheduled, so that we can serve as many families as possible.

Thank you for helping us keep the process running smoothly for everyone.

12/05/2025

We are honored to have been one of the first sites that Jay and JHM Woodworks donates trucks to. They are quite popular. Here’s a great article on the man behind the mission of taking leftover wood and making Christmas memories.

“We’re trying the best we can to not make something that will land on the Island of Misfit Toys,” says Jay Morris. “No square wheels.”

11/28/2025

Here is the information from the site about application dates. We will start responding after the holiday with family.

11/25/2025

The application is now open. Email is best way to communicate. Here are some housekeeping reminders for this year.
1. Only sign up for children in your custody/guardianship. If they aren't then their parent or guardian needs to sign them up.
2. If you sign up it is your responsibility to monitor the email address that you used on the application.
3. Emails will be sent if there are questions about the application and it will not be approved until answered.
4. Multiple attempts will not be made to get people to schedule an appointment to pick up toys.
5. If you have to ride with someone or are giving someone a ride and want appointments at the same time you need to coordinate that before you schedule your appointments. We only have so many spots and it is not fair to us or others to try and make it work.
6. If you sign up and it has been a few days and you have not heard something please email us at [email protected] to check on application.
7. Please don't sign up if you have no intentions of picking toys up. Every year we have several applications that go unfilled and we are unable to make contact with applicant.
8. If you sign up and then decide you do not need to please email and let us know.

11/09/2025

The 2025 application will not be open until sometime the week of Thanksgiving.

11/04/2025

Since 2013, Audra and Ben Cochran have had the privilege of running the Labette County Toys for Tots campaign under the Marine Corps Reserves program. It has been one of the most meaningful things we have ever done for this community. Every year, we get to help over 600 kids in Labette County have a Christmas they deserve.

But after 12 seasons, our own kids are entering the years where being present matters more than ever. Junior high. High school. Sports. Events. All of the moments we do not get a second chance at.

So this season begins a transition.

We are looking for the next committed community leader or small team who would like to take over the coordination of Labette County Toys for Tots. Ideally you would learn and shadow this year while we still run point, and then step fully into leadership next season. We already have a system in place and we will continue to donate building space for Toys for Tots use.

We are not disappearing. We are shifting from lead coordinators to supportive hands so we can be present for our own daughters while still helping this program thrive.

If you are interested in helping lead this or know someone who would be a good fit, please reach out.

Labette County steps up for 600 kids every year. We just need the next leader to step forward for the next chapter.

10/10/2025

Big shout out to Lennox, Our Diamond Miss KS State Overall Diamond Girl and Queen of Queens. For all of her hard work in fundraising and then purchasing toys to donate to Toys for Tots. We appreciate what she does to continuously help our program.