Filling 4,500 Tri-Cities kids’ holiday wishes, one toy at a time
Just inside a building at the Benton County Fairgrounds, past a giant inflatable Santa, some major Christmas preparations are underway.
Each December, Toys for Tots Tri-Cities transforms a building at the fairgrounds in Kennewick into Santa’s workshop. For two weeks, thousands of toys collected from local businesses and community members are sorted and prepared for distribution to Tri-Cities families in need.
This year, the organization will give toys, books, stocking stuffers, balls and stuffed animals to 4,700 local children, plus truckloads of donated toys will go to local nonprofits, such as the Salvation Army.
The local chapter is part of the National U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. Its mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas.
Volunteer helpers
Led by local volunteer coordinator Glen Carter, a dedicated team of volunteers works 10-hour days sorting thousands of toys for newborns to 12-year-olds.
Angela Hernandez, her husband Angel and their three children volunteered Thursday morning. The Pasco family was spending time helping out on their first day of winter break. Angel is a P.E. teacher at Stevens Middle School and Angela is a substitute teacher for the Pasco School District.
Griselda Roman has been volunteering for Toys for Tots for nine years. Now her two sons, Vicente, 9, and Leonardo, 7, are old enough to help bag toys and gifts for families. The boys helped pick out a small, medium and large toy for each child, plus books and smaller toys.
Volunteers are diligent about making sure toys are age-appropriate and try to meet special requests. Families submit applications with their child’s name and age, then come to the fairgrounds to pick up their presents.
Stephanie and Alex Archer are part of a core group of volunteers. They’re both commercial airline pilots and have been helping out at Toys for Tots for six years. Stephanie said that last year, a local book store owner closed her shop and donated hundreds of children’s picture and chapter books to the organization.
Carter takes two weeks off from work as a locomotive engineer for BNSF in Pasco to make holiday wishes come true.
In some ways, he plays Santa in his role at Toys for Tots. He said he believes in creating a sense of community and hope.
Carter said that the Hanford Vit Plant team donated $36,000 in cash and toys this year to Toys for Tots. Stephanie said that the organization also receives large donations from Toyota and stuffed animals from the American Hockey League.
Doing quick math, Carter estimates the entire operation costs more than $500,000 a year to give toys to an estimated 5,000 children, each receiving six items valued at $5-$20.
Just like Santa’s workshop, Toys for Tots wouldn’t be possible without helpers. Volunteers come from Young Marines, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and youth 4H groups. Volunteer groups of more than 10 must sign up in advance.
The organization needs volunteers between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Benton Franklin Fairgrounds, Building #4, now through Saturday, Dec. 20.
This story was originally published December 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
