An unknown number of suspects stole over 1,000 toys from a Greenville storage facility Tuesday. The toys were intended for underprivileged children as part of the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Foundation.

Dr. Debbie Davis, who coordinates Toys for Tots in a nine-county area that includes Butler, said she and volunteers arrived at the storage facility on Tuesday to discover nearly every toy in the building had been stolen.

“I just stepped back and almost started crying,” said Davis. “We traveled so much trying to get the toys up so these children would have a good Christmas.”

Davis said items taken included baby dolls, basketballs and footballs, skateboards, and Big Wheel cycles.

“It shocked us,” said Davis, a 22-year volunteer with the long running Marine Corps’ program.

The goal of the program is to augment any local collections of toys at Christmas for economically disadvantaged youngsters.

Davis would not say where the storage shed was located because of the ongoing police investigation. She did say owners allowed Toys for Tots to use the storage shed free of charge.

“The person was real nice not to charge us,” she said.

Davis said Toys for Tots will serve 200 children in Butler County alone. She said while the organization does have plenty of puzzles and board games to deliver children, it’s gifts – like the ones stolen from the shed – that oftentimes bring a smile to a child’s face at Christmas.

For those interested in making a donation, Davis can be reached at 334-546-7686 or via email at drdavisintime@yahoo.com. Donations can also be made at www.georgianna-al.toysfortots.org.

The organization is asking for help in setting up at least a pair of toy drop-off points in Greenville and will need two large trucks or vans to collect the toys. Anyone willing to help can reach Davis at the aforementioned number.

The Advocate will update this story as more news develops.