From left, Jamie Hubbard, Dylan Roberts, Nick Sharpe and Scott Henthorne of Stadium GM in Salem hold up the banner for the dealership’s 11th-annual Toys for Tots campaign which officially kicked off Monday. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

SALEM — The Stadium GM Superstore kicked off its annual campaign of generosity on Monday and is asking for the community’s help in meeting its mission of making Christmas brighter for less-fortunate families in Columbiana County through the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Program.

“The last few years, people from the community have come out and helped this toy drive be as big as possible. We hope they will continue to do so,” said Stadium GM Owner Shorty Navarro. “Our goal is to help put some smiles on some children’s faces this Christmas season. Christmas is all about giving, and we are going to start off the drive with a large donation for area kids and we hope that others will join in and give to help us exceed our goal.”

The Salem-based dealership is hoping to outdo last year’s drive by 25%, setting a target of 1,000 toys to be collected over the next two weeks. Stadium Sales Professional and the event coordinator Scott Henthrone said the bar is raised every year. He expects the 11th year to be the biggest yet.

“Last year, we collected 750 toys. Every year, we try to get a little bit more and more. And make a lot of children happy out there,” Henthrone said. “This year, we are really hoping to get 1,000 toys. If we can get 1,000 toys that makes a lot of families and a lot of children happy — right here in Columbiana County.”

The drive benefits local families in need. Toys collected in the county will stay in the county. According to toysfortots.com, the program’s mission is to “collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.”

For Henthrone, the campaign is bringing the words “comfort and joy” to life.

“It makes it easier for less-fortunate families and you get joy,” he said. “To see where it’s going and which families will get the toys, just to know that you are making a kid happy, that’s why we do it.”

Henthorne also wants the community to know that every toy matters — every single one. Donations matter and make a difference.

“Some kids might not have a Christmas without the help of everybody out there,” he said. “All you guys that donated, we are so grateful for you and so are the families.”

As a former Marine himself, Navarro is proud to partner with the Marines Corps and lead the county’s toy collection efforts.

‘This is near and dear to our owner’s heart,” Henthorne added.

New, unwrapped toys in original packaging can be dropped off at the dealership located at 214 W. State St. in through Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Distribution is expected to take place Dec. 19. Henthrone also noted that toys can be dropped off at various collections boxes through the county.

“We also have boxes all around Columbiana County,” he explained. “We have them at Giant Eagle, Farmer’s National Banks, Edward Jones in Columbiana. They are everywhere. If you see a Toys for Tots throw one in the box, and I go around picking them.”

Gifts for children of all ages are needed — teenagers included.

“We accept everything for kids from infants to 16- and 17-year olds. The toughest ones are the oldest kids,” Henthorne said. “We take a wide array of everything.”