BIDDEFORD — Scores turned out to the Rochambeau Club on South Street for the annual Northern York County Toys for Tots distribution on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Toys for Tots program, run by the United States Marine Corps, collects new, unwrapped toys and gifts during November and December each year for distribution to families who may not be able to afford presents for their children.

With the exception of Washington County, every Maine county has one or more Toys for Tots program. The Northern York County branch supports families in the Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Lyman, Arundel, Dayton, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Limington, Buxton and Hollis areas.

Around 1,300 families in those communities received assistance from the program, Volunteer Coordinator Sonya Garrepy, an IDEXX employee, said Wednesday. 

“We’re supporting 1,300 families this year to make sure we provide them with gifts and help make their Christmases a little bit brighter for their children,” Garrepy said, noting the provides gifts from stocking stuffers and stuffed animals to sporting goods and more. “It is a wide variety of presents to put under the tree for their children.”

About 130 volunteers — the most the program has ever seen — helped set up shop at the Rochambeau Club building distribution. About 100 of those volunteers came from IDEXX, a developer and manufacturer of veterinary supplies, and from the Masons and Widows Sons of Maine.

Families are eligible to receive toys from the program by signing up online, although they are not eligible if they have scheduled to receive toys from programs sponsored by other charitable organizations.

Parents, grandparents and siblings, dozens of them, could be seen walking up and down the aisles on Wednesday, perusing items. Volunteers walked alongside them, assisting in the shopping process and filling carts to capacity. Shoppers smiled as they left, bags filled to overflowing, with toys for their families.

“Heartwarming is exactly how I would describe it,” said Garrepy. “The stories that you hear for some of these families, sometimes it brings tears to your eyes. And just to know that we’re making sure 1,300 families have toys on Christmas morning, it’s almost indescribable, the feeling you get making sure that happens for those families.”

“I just can’t imagine any child going without toys on Christmas morning,” Garrepy added. “It breaks my heart to think of any child going without them.”

For volunteers, the experience was no less meaningful. Matt Veilleux, another IDEXX employee who worked stocking shelves and sorting toys, said he appreciates the time he is able to spend volunteering.

“This is probably the best cause we can volunteer for in general,” he said.

For others, the event was a reminder of the true meaning of the holiday season.

“It makes me feel very good. It’s probably one of the better events that we participate in,” said IDEXX volunteer Mike Garon. “The holidays are about family. How children participate is they usually get gifts, and it’s incredibly important they feel included in that.

“Grownups can share stories, share meals and try and support the family, but there’s still something special to be said when all of (the children’s) friends at the various schools are getting things they can show or share stories about,” Garon said.

Garrepy said what makes the experience worthwhile is knowing the people receiving the presents are truly in need. She said she’s heard stories of parents passing away, family members being diagnosed with cancer and several others that make volunteering a powerful experience.

“Those type of things just — no matter how exhausted we are at the end of the whole thing — it makes it worth it. We walk away feeling really good and, it’s pretty special,” she said.

Garon said last year, his first year volunteering, he assisted a grandmother in shopping who had not been able to work do due a massive stroke. Helping her provide for her family stuck with him.

“It really helps resonate at home when you see someone struggling that way who’s willing to come in here and get help,” he said.

And, according to Garrepy, the feeling is mutual.

“There’s certainly nothing like that moment when a family hugs you after to say thank you and show their appreciation,” she said.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].