With the big day just around the corner, the organizers of local toy drives say they’ll do everything they can to make sure there are gifts under the tree for the less fortunate, but it may be a challenge.

The two toy drives being run by the Salvation Army and HMCS Prevost are still about 2,700 gifts short with less than a week left to their deadline.

Warrant Officer Robert Kriznec says Toys for Tots is trying to provide gifts for more than 2,500 children, and right now HMCS Prevost is still short nearly 700 toys.

“Failure is not an option for us, even if we have to dig into our own pockets.”

Gifts for older children or ‘tweens’ are still needed for both drives and sports equipment is always in demand.

At the Salvation Army, Perron Goodyear says they’re seeing nearly 900 families a day in need of help.

They’ve distributed 5,000 gift bags for children so far, but are still short another 2,000 and Goodyear says “It’s really slow, we are in desperate need of toys.”

Toys for the Salvation Army drive can be dropped off at the Western Fair Special Events Building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or at the Centre of Hope at 281 Wellington Street.

Or you can donate to HMCS Prevost at 19 Becher Street or any Canadian Tire location.