The idea of a child waking up on Christmas Day without a gift to unwrap is unimaginable for Re McClung.

Yet she fears that some Whidbey Island families who need help in providing toys for their children this holiday season might be unaware of services designed to do just that.

The number of families that have contacted local agencies to receive help in the form of toys through Toys for Tots is down from past years, which raises a concern from McClung.

“I am desperately afraid that we are missing families and children who might, without our help, go without toys for Christmas,” said McClung, who oversees the collection of toys on Whidbey and their distribution to five agencies throughout the island.

About 1,600 children are targeted to receive toys through the island-wide Toys for Tots toy donation program, which is run by Maj. Megan McClung Marine Corp League Detachment 1210 in cooperation with local community charities and agencies.

The organization expected more than 2,000 recipients this year based on increasing numbers over the past three years.

The Toys for Tots goal is to distribute at least one quality toy to every child in need.

“Theoretically, we have 400 kids who haven’t shown up, and that doesn’t sound right to me,” McClung said. “That’s why I’m concerned.”

Toy donations from the community are not the issue.

Roughly 5,000 toys have been donated by islanders into various collection boxes or through cash donations with about 3,500 already distributed to agencies for pickup.

“People in the area are generous,” said Bill Smith, who has volunteered to help McClung sort through the remaining inventory in two storage units that were once packed with toys.

“Truckloads have already left.”

Recognizing there will be late comers, two of the five agencies on the island are still taking applications from families who need help in providing toys for their children.

Residents of North and Central Whidbey may contact the Central/North Whidbey Holiday House in Coupeville by reaching Vivian Rogers Decker at 360-320-7013 or vivianrdecker@gmail.com

Those in South Whidbey may contact Gayle LaVassar with the South Whidbey Holiday House. She may be reached by calling 360-221-6808, ext. 4321, or by emailing to glavassar@gmail.com

Orders will be taken right up until Christmas, McClung said.

“I’ll take kids up until the last minute for Toys for Tots,” she said.