The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

COLUMBIA, MO. -- The holidays can be a very stressful time of year for low-income families and individuals.

Fortunately, there are many organizations across Mid-Missouri helping these unfortunate people.

Columbia’s Mizzou Marine Corps League Detachment #828 oversees the Toys for Tots Program for several Mid-Missouri counties.  This is just one organization that needs your help this holiday season.  Socket employees bought 6 cartloads of toys at Wal-Mart and donated them to Toys for Tots instead of buying popcorn tins for their business clients.

Socket employee Tia Stratman said, “The first year we started a website, wheresmypopcorn.com.  It explained what we started to do.  We take a big company photo with all of the toys and send it out to our business clients so they get to see all of the toys that we donated.”

Each child 12 and under gets at least 1 expensive Toys for Tots gift and 2 to 3 smaller gifts.  Volunteers make sure each family gets board games and books to make sure everyone in the home has a Merry Christmas.

You can donate to toys for tots by finding a collection box at an area business near you.

In Columbia, the Voluntary Action Center is taking donations for their 28th Annual Christmas Program.

In Jefferson City, the Samaritan Center needs your help with this year’s Christmas Adoption Program and Santa’s Workshop.

The Morgan County Caring for Kids Coalition needs donations for this year’s Toys for Kids Program.  You can drop off donations at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department.

In Fulton, Serve Inc. volunteers need donations for their Christmas “Adopt a Family” program that serves nearly 200 families.

Most organizations only accept new toys so children can wake up on Christmas morning with new presents from Santa Claus.

One of the easiest ways to give families and children in need a happy holiday is to drop some money in the little red bucket of Salvation Army bell ringers.