POST FALLS - Tables were neatly lined with dolls, games and books on Tuesday at the Kootenai County Tots for Tots distribution center, now at the county Fire and Rescue training center.

But don't be deceived by the clusters of bright colored packages, Mike Milligan warned.

"It looks like a lot of toys. But this is nothing. It will be gone in two days," said Milligan, coordinator of the Pappy Boyington Marine Corps League Detaches that operates Toys for Tots.

Despite the high number of applications this year from low-income families, Milligan said, the local nonprofit is facing a major shortage in toy donations.

That means there are a lot of children signed up to receive non-existent toys.

"All the guys on the (toy pickup) routes say it is much slower than last year," Milligan said. "We're struggling."

The nonprofit started off with a low rollover of donations from last year, he explained, which doesn't help the trickling donations so far.

"We started in a hole, and we haven't dug ourselves out yet," Milligan said.

So far, the nonprofit has received applications from more than 800 families, he said, requesting toys and books for roughly 1,200 children.

"Demand is up significantly," Milligan observed, noting that applications are still being taken through Dec. 17.

For now, the nonprofit is setting aside some families' applications, Milligan added, if there are no toys for their children's age groups.

So it would really help if folks mustered some Christmas cheer and donated in the next several days, Milligan said.

"We need some help," he said.

Toy donations are needed for both girls and boys, from 3 years old all the way to 12 years old, he said.

Volunteer Bob Robinson, a Marine Corps veteran, said he has witnessed intense demand this year from families applying at the county fairgrounds.

"The first Saturday (for applications), the people were lined up wall to wall," said Robinson, who was helping sort toys on Tuesday alongside his terrier, Skipper. "We have a lot of people coming in who are on food stamps and welfare, who don't have a lot of money, but sometimes have four or five kids. It's important we help them as much as we can."

Donations coming in this year just don't compare to past years, Robinson added.

"In the past, some people donated 10 bikes. This year, we didn't get any new ones," the Coeur d'Alene man said. "I think it's tough out there even for people who used to make donations."

Toys for Tots donation boxes will be out until Dec. 18, Milligan said. The boxes can be found in most grocery stores like Albertsons and Super 1 Foods.

For the location of all local Toys for Tots donation boxes, go to www.toysfortots.org, and look under "Donate a Toy."

Families can also still apply for toy and book donations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Dec. 17 at the fairgrounds.

Applicants will pick up donations at the training center at 5271 E. Seltice Way. Pick-up is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, from Dec. 18 to Dec. 29.

Milligan expressed gratitude to toy donors.

"There are a lot of kids out there and families who need some help," he said. "We want to make that effort to give them a joyful Christmas, and it takes a community to do that."

How to help

• Go to www.toysfortots.org to find locations of Toys for Tots donation boxes. Donations are needed through Dec. 18