About 100 children will not have the merry Christmas the Salvation Army had envisioned for them if the donations do not come in today.
"We are doing terrible on gifts for ages 13 and up, especially for boys." said Captain Amanda Mitchell. "We're really hurting."
Mitchell said the community has been very responsive to the drive, but the great majority of the donations are toys and gifts appropriate for small children.
"We don't have a lot of backpacks or gym bags," she said. "We don't even have sports stuff like footballs."
Mitchell said the Salvation Army would welcome any gifts for teenagers including electronic or hand-held games.
She said if a person is unsure what to buy, gift certificates also make good gifts for older children.
Kim Riggs, the homeless advocate for the Carson City School District, said it is a common problem.
"At Christmas time, everybody thinks of the little kid that needs a Barbie but they don't think of the older ones that need shoes or a backpack," Riggs said. "Just because they're teenagers doesn't mean they don't need anything.
"You're never too old for a gift."
You Can Help:
What: Salvation Army gift drive
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today
Where: National Guard Armory at 2525 S. Carson St.
