ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The 7th annual News10NBC Toys for Tots Holiday Drive kicks off on Wednesday, aiming to ensure that every child has a toy to open during the holiday season.

In 2023, the drive set a local record, collecting more than 90,000 toys, and organizers have high hopes for 2024. News10NBC’s Jennifer Lewke was live at Bill Gray’s on Penfield Road as they kicked off the drive.

You can see a list of drop-off boxes and learn more here.

“These boxes are now across more than seven hundred businesses in our region including al Bill Gray’s,” said Lewke.

Alexis Hogle of Bill Gray’s said they want to help 50,000 children this year.

“Your donations to boxes within the counties stay in those counties, so they come to us at the warehouse to get distributed to agencies across the board and across the counties we serve,” Hogle said.

They are looking for new, unwrapped toys for all children, and newborns all the way up to age 16. Organizers say they’re particularly in need of toys for boys and girls ages 6 to 8, in addition to girls ages 9 to 16. The collection runs through Dec. 15.

Toys for Tots began in 1947. The United States Marine Corps Reserve manages and distributes the toys to families. More than 43,000 children in the Rochester area received toys in 2023 because of the drive.