The Marine Corps said yesterday its 2009 Toys for Tots Hawai'i collection effort is still about 20,000 toys shy of its goal of 45,000 toys for Hawai'i's less-fortunate keiki.

Toys for Tots has extended this year's drive until noon tomorrow.

In addition to the regular drop-off sites around O'ahu, donations may now also be dropped off at the Toys for Tots warehouse, located at Dole Cannery on the Costco parking lot side of the facility. That warehouse is staffed by volunteers from The Salvation Army, which handles the distribution of all the toys collected during the annual drive.

Since 1996, Toys for Tots has collected nearly 640,000 toys and more than $350,000 to purchase toys for distribution to nearly 400,000 of Hawai'i's children.

For information on how to donate on-line or for toy drop-off sites, visit www.toysfortots.org and select Hawai'i.