AMHERST – No one wants to see children lack for toys at Christmas, and this year, the Holiday Toy Store and the Amherst Junior Women’s Club have a big job.

Nearly 200 people have asked for help in providing their children with toys, said Beth Kimberly, coordinator for the Holiday Toy Store, which has been helping families in need from Amherst, Brookline, Milford and Mont Vernon for 23 years.

Working with the Amherst Junior Women’s Club, the Toy Store takes donations, and the women shop for toys. They also collect new toy donations from drop boxes at various businesses and organizations.

This year, there are more drop boxes, including one at the Amherst Walmart.

Kimberly said 194 families have applied so far, and there are still almost two weeks to go.

On Dec. 14-15, the Toy Store will welcome families at the Milford Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall to pick up gifts for children up to age 15.

For information about eligibility and for registration to receive gifts, call Beth Kimberly at 424-1333.

Monetary donations should be sent by Dec. 8, with checks made out to the Holiday Toy Store, P.O. Box 6, Amherst, NH 03031.

This year, the Holiday Toy Store received a donation of $6,000 from the Stuart S. Draper fund through the N.H. Charitable Foundation.

“It will definitely come in handy,” Kimberly said.

Draper was the president of Draper Energy and the Wilton Scenic Railroad before he died in 2006.

Drop box locations are:

BROOKLINE

Brookline Public Library

Captain Samuel Douglass Academy

Richard Maghakian Memorial School

AMHERST

Black Forest Cafe

Amherst Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center

Frederick’s Pastries

Amherst Library

Amherst Town Hall

Amherst Middle School

Clark/Wilkins School

The First Congregational Church

Amherst Congregational Church

LaBelle Winery

MILFORD

Milford Town Hall

Wadleigh Memorial Library

Stop & Shop

Gold’s Gym

My Kidz Kutz

People’s United Banks

Walmart

Hampshire Hills Sports & Fitness Club

Toyland

Heron Pond School

Jacques Memorial School

Milford Middle School

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 21, or kcleveland@cabinet.com.