Tens of thousands of toys collected, distributed to Lowcountry families through Toys for Tots

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — More than 16,000 children across the greater Charleston area awoke Christmas morning to find a toy under their tree thanks to Toys for Tots.

News 2 and the U.S. Marines have worked together since October to collect new, unwrapped toys for local children who may not otherwise have gifts to open this holiday season.

Families across the tri-county area dropped off their donations at businesses restaurants, and even WCBD-TV’s studios.

The 2024 campaign culminated in a massive single-day donation blitz on Dec. 20 where cars lined up one after the other outside News 2 ready to give back to those in need.

And as goes tradition, a caravan of local law enforcement and volunteers loaded up the toys on Monday morning and took them back to the makeshift toy factory at the North Charleston Convention Center.

In all, News 2 and the Marines collected an estimated 92,582 toys and hundreds of bicycles this holiday season, supporting more than 3,000 families.

Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Rob Fowler, members of the News 2 team, and hundreds of other volunteers played Santa Claus on Christmas morning, knocking on doors and delivering gifts to thousands of children across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.

“This is a very unique program in Charleston because it has the support of this whole community,” Rob said. “To see all of this, where we have so many teams that all fan out into specific communities, makes your heart warm.”

Since its inception in 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed 677 million toys to 301 million children nationwide.