The Night Before Christmas poem says the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
Every year, some of that care comes from people who donate to the Toyland Express, sponsored by the Northland's News Center and administered by the Salvation Army.

"That is where we have boxes out in different businesses to collect toys and the toys come here and we give them to children." said Nancy Leslie of the Salvation Army.

But with only three weeks till Christmas morn, the Toyland Express has ground to a halt.

"Our distribution is the 16th, 17th and 18th and I hardly have no toys." according to Leslie.

Nancy Leslie of the Salvation Army says the slow economy is the reason to blame.
The economy is also increasing the need for donations.
Leslie says donors should especially focus on older kids this year.

"Our main age is 10 to 16. That's the age group we always fall short in. Right now, I have 2,931 children and nowhere near the toys." said Leslie.

Along with toys, cold, hard cash is welcome, too, and will go a long way in warming and softening a child's holiday season.

"If we don't get the toys these children will not have a Christmas. We are the ones that provide Christmas for them because the parents can't afford it and with economic times as they are now, it'll be worse than last year." Leslie reports.

Dave Anderson, the Northland's News Center.

You can donate toys at the Northland's NewsCenter, 246 South Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802. You can also find a list of other locations on the Salvation Army's website. http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_usc_duluth1.nsf/vw-search/802570A800485D1B80256E3E00595F2B?opendocument