‘We were all turned away;’ Some families turned away at local Toys for Tots

SPRINGFIELD — Over 100 people showed up to the Toys for Tots event at the Springfield Sports Academy last night hoping to bring Christmas presents home to their kids, but many left empty-handed.

Ronda Mitchell told News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson that she went to the Springfield Sports Academy Thursday hoping to pick up gifts for her nine children, but only walked away with three.

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“We were all turned away, stating that there (were) no gifts left,” Mitchell said. “There was nothing else that they could do for us.”

Jae Norrod showed up with her daughter to the event, which she called “unorganized from the very beginning.”

“It definitely seemed like they needed more help or guidance than what they were given,” Norrod said.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, Robertson spoke to the principal of Springfield Sports Academy. She said the event, which was for families in Clark and Champaign counties, only had two people working.

“(The coordinator) found out that her volunteers were not able to support, so all the military troops that were expecting to come out and help, again, they were unavailable,” Travonna Hunter said.

The parking lot was packed and cars were lined up to the building with families waiting to get their gifts.

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“We intended to move everybody and get them out by 6:00 p.m. and even with all the hiccups we had...we still got everybody out by 6:55 p.m.,” Hunter said. “We did apologize at the end because there were a few choices.”

Some parents, like Mitchell, had to leave without gifts for some of their kids with Christmas just days away.

“I mean it’s a really sad situation,” Mitchell said.

News Center 7 learned that the Toys for Tots coordinator who ran the event asked Hunter to get parents’ names and contact information. She also asked if she could use her building again this Sunday to make sure those parents have gifts to give their kids at Christmas.

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