“People are more in need this year,” she said.
The center has seen a 70% increase in the number of Burbank residents who are asking for help, which Howell attributed to the downward economy.
The increased need has pushed the demand of more donations high, she said.
“It comes in as quickly as it comes out,” Howell said.
The department and hotel’s donations came with great need from the center, she said.
Some Burbank residents experienced hardships because of the shaky economy, so the department wanted to give to residents, Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr said.
“I just think that this year, it is going to help more people in need than the years past,” he said.
“I think it’s great that we are doing this.”
The hotel’s employees have donated toys to local community organizations for 15 years, said Erika Hofmann, the Holiday Inn’s director of operations.
The employees, she said, look forward to donating toys to families for Christmas every year.
“We get everybody to get unwrapped toys to help the less fortunate in the community,” hotel General Manager Chris Haven said.
Toys began pouring into the center at the beginning of December, Howell said.
To support the demand of large toy donations, the center opens a Santa Room that is divided into different sections for teens, children and infants, she said.
Along with giving toys to families, the center provides families with clothes, shoes and winter coats for cold months.
The center generally doesn’t donate toys to teens older than 16. But Howell said if their younger siblings receive toys, the center makes an exception in order to be fair.
The center’s volunteers began putting together gift bags for children Dec. 1 and began giving out toys to children Monday, Howell said.
“We try to wait until we have as much as possible to give to the kids,” she said.
Leftover toys will be stored in the center’s donation rooms so the toys can be given to children in need year-round.
