More families than usual asked for help this year, Dolan said.
Toys for Tots received requests from 350 Boston-area organizations this year, compared with 290 last year, Dolan said. Two weeks ago, before the entreaty to the public, the Boston office of Toys for Tots still needed about 50,000 toys. As of yesterday, that goal has been met.
“We’re having trouble keeping up with all the donations,’’ said Sergeant Matt Laroche, the Greater Boston Toys for Tots coordinator.
Last year, Toys for Tots in Boston collected 138,845 toys. This year, Dolan expects the group to give out about 140,000.
The Boston Housing Authority relies heavily on Toys for Tots. Officials at the BHA asked the group to help provide gifts for about 3,000 children between 3 and 10 years old whose families make $20,000 or less per year, said Lydia Agro, an agency spokeswoman.
While many young children will now receive gifts, donations for teenagers remain at critically low levels as tonight’s deadline looms at The Home for Little Wanderers, which provides shelter and at-home services for thousands of families across the state, said spokeswoman Heather MacFarlane.
Donations of gift cards and toys earmarked for teenagers are down 33 percent from last year’s totals, MacFarlane said.
“A lot of programs actually have a cutoff age of 12, and once you turn 13, they don’t collect gifts for you anymore,’’ she said. “But how do you say to a teenager, ‘You don’t get any gifts this year?’ ’’
MacFarlane said the group believes the numbers are down because it is easier to buy general toys and gifts for babies and young children, while teenagers often ask for specific items that other children their age have, such as MP3 players, brand-name hoodies, and video games.
“It provides them with a sense of normalcy,’’ MacFarlane said.
To donate, visit the Home for Little Wanderers toy room at 161 South Huntington Ave. or go to TheHome.org.
