Let's face it, this year has been a tough one for everyone. You may be barely making it on your own and figuring out how to make the holidays work for your own family.

Those who have the means to help local charities this time of year usually first think of Toys for Tots or the Salvation Army. Both are great, but there's another organization with an urgent need for help, if you can because KCRG is reporting that the nonprofit Families Helping Families of Iowa is short on donations and sending out a renewed plea for help for its Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration.

We told you a while back that the annual "Giving Tree" portion of their donation drive is canceled this year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Many of those partner businesses are closed or have limited staff on-site to assist with those Giving Tree donations, so they've gone a different route.

So far, 654 children have signed up, and a total of only 50 toys have been donated.

There's a shopping list you can use on their website for ideas of gifts to donate through December 1, when their drive-through event takes place.

Donations of either toys or money can be mailed to Families Helping Families of Iowa, 3516 Center Point Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. Call them for more details at (319)294-9706.

They also have PayPal.

You can even donate through Stuff Etc. and Can Shed locations. All the details are here.

FHF Board Treasurer Alonzo Marsh's plea is strong. "This year with the derecho in eastern and central Iowa as well as the pandemic and job losses have really hit the foster community hard and we try to help meet some of the extra needs of these kids, and there are no words for what it means for a kid to get a holiday gift".

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Iowans Introduce Their Pups for National Dog Day 2020

More From 104-5 KDAT