Clogged drain soaks toys for children

Boxes containing an estimated 1,000 dolls, toys and books for needy children were ruined when a warehouse flooded, said the Salvation Army in San Diego.

Wednesday's flooding from a clogged storm drain left more than an inch of water on the warehouse floor, Salvation Army spokeswoman Suzi Woodruff Lacey said.

Some, we'll take out of boxes and see if we can salvage them, she said, noting the loss hits especially hard because donations are down by 30 percent this season while more families than ever have signed up for Christmas baskets.

Our requests for various types of assistance have increased 20 percent to 300 percent, Woodruff Lacey said. "People have lost their jobs, have lost or are losing their homes.

The San Diego chapter of the Salvation Army had planned to give toys to 20,000 children, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Thursday.

You must sign in to comment