Like Rudolph’s red nose lighting the way through a blizzard, Kelley Hamilton is leading Flathead County’s Toys for Tots program through the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s Hamilton’s first year at the helm of the initiative, and she couldn’t have started at a more difficult time. But despite the challenges, Hamilton remains upbeat and committed to her mission: rallying the community to provide presents for every local child in need.

“We plan on having a lot of fun and giving out a lot of toys,” Hamilton said at the start of the collection season in late November. “So far, so good.”

The Toys for Tots program has traditionally been a partnership between the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the Salvation Army. But this year, the national organizers felt they couldn’t keep up with the patchwork of state and local regulations around COVID-19 in each community.

So Hamilton was tapped to keep the tradition alive in the Flathead.

Hamilton is the first non-Marine to run the local program, but she brings years of volunteer experience with the Salvation Army to her new leadership position.

And even though the program has been inundated with changes this holiday season, Hamilton said it’s already going better than she ever anticipated.

The outpouring of support from the community has far exceeded Hamilton’s expectations.

Without access to Salvation Army’s facilities, for instance, Toys for Tots needed a site to collect and sort donations. Dennis Johnson at The Party Store stepped up and offered the group his largest warehouse.

Businesses that can’t donate their space have made significant contributions, too. There are 100 donation boxes already in place throughout the valley, and Hamilton said she receives requests for more on a daily basis.

Supporters across the valley are “coming out of the woodwork,” she said.

It’s a good thing, because the need has never been greater. By the end of November, Toys for Tots had received almost 1,400 applications for children to receive a toy. That’s nearly double the 700 total recipients the program served last year.

Hamilton said the economic impacts of the pandemic have driven a lot of first-time applicants to turn to Toys for Tots. In recognition of the chaotic circumstances, Toys for Tots won’t be screening recipients based on income this year.

“We’ve had enough to do this year…let’s just give out toys,” Hamilton said.

Applications also have gone up because it’s the first year recipients can apply online, and Hamilton made the executive decision to add a category for recipients ages 13 to 16. She said it always bothered her that anyone over 12 — like her 14-year-old — wasn’t eligible for a gift in years past.

However, she admitted it isn’t easy finding presents for the teen age range, and she encouraged donors to bring in gifts specifically targeted at young teenagers.

Even with skyrocketing demand, Hamilton is confident every child will be able to get a gift.

“This valley is huge,” she pointed out. “I think we’re going to be good.”

She is optimistic, too, that Toys for Tots will be able to carry out its mission safely, despite the coronavirus. She explained the many changes that have been put into place for safety reasons, and she expects most children, parents and volunteers will be understanding of the adjustments.

Recipients sign up for a 15-minute appointment ahead of time, and everyone in the facility is required to wear gloves and a mask during their visit. Volunteers are working hard to sanitize everything and social-distance from one another while they collect and sort the donations.

“That’s really put a kink in things,” Hamilton acknowledged, “but it’s really smoother than I ever would’ve expected.”

She encouraged the community to continue donating toys and signing up to volunteer with Toys for Tots. Businesses can also help by donating food to the volunteers, since the program’s funding is carefully restricted to spending on toys only.

Though there’s a long season ahead, Hamilton doesn’t seem like she’ll lose her positive attitude anytime soon.

“If we can do this year, we can do everything,” she said.

For more information about getting involved with Toys for Tots, go to: https://columbia-falls-mt.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx?nPageID=100&nPreviewInd=200&nRedirectInd=3

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.