Boston , Massachusetts ( CNN ) -- A white van sits at a warehouse loading dock in Boston . Buckled in the front passenger seat is Eeyore , the donkey friend of Winnie the Pooh . `` This is the back seat driver , '' says one of several volunteers removing the stuffed animal and other donated children 's items for the local Toys for Tots campaign . The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program , which began 62 years ago in Los Angeles , California , now gives Christmas presents to underprivileged children in nearly 700 cities and towns across the country . `` We 're filling orders like crazy , '' says Kay Carpenter , a volunteer and former Marine . She says that while the local campaign seems to be getting more donations this year , the demand also has risen . `` They go out as fast as they come in . '' As large boxes of toys make their way from the loading dock to the warehouse office , volunteers sort the toys by gender and age group and then fill orders they 've received from various charitable organizations in the greater Boston area . `` It 's been tough for everybody with the economic climate the way it is , '' says Betty Whalen , a volunteer who works sorting the toys . She points out the empty bins normally used to store the toys . Volunteers wo n't bother putting new donations in the bins , she says , `` because as soon as we sort all of this and start making up orders , it 'll be gone . '' Last year the economy made it tough for many people , and Toys for Tots was hit hard as well . The Boston office did not have enough toys to fill its orders until some last-minute donations arrived . For 2009 , Carpenter says , `` We 've run out of some toys , but overall , we 're doing better than last year . '' Maj. Allen Porter , who runs the Toys for Tots program in the Dallas-Fort Worth , Texas , area , also sees an increased demand this year . But unlike Boston , donations in his area are down . `` Compared to where we were at last year , '' he said , `` we are a little bit below . '' Nationally , corporate cash donations are down significantly , about $ 1.5 million below where they were this time last year , according to Bill Grein , senior vice president of marketing for Toys for Tots . `` That 's a lot of presents that we would sure like to have , '' he said . Last year , Toys for Tots collected or bought 16.2 million toys , books and gifts , down from 16.6 million the year before , Grein said . Most donations to the campaign are toys , but the organization raised about $ 30 million last year through corporate donations , direct mail , individual contributions and online donations . As an indicator , online donations in November were down 10 to 15 percent from the same time last year , he said . Though the program runs year round , this is the season when larger contributions typically come in . `` Every year we count on getting a few Christmas miracles , '' he said , `` So we 're hoping that things will pick up now . '' For some children , getting a toy has an effect on them that carries through after Christmas morning , Grein said . `` We think that it 's important for children to be able to go back to school and enter into conversation about what they got for Christmas , '' he said . `` It 's a self esteem and self confidence issue that we think is very important . '' Back in Boston , volunteers are taking packaged orders down to the loading dock . Mara Voukidys , from Cambridge Cares About AIDS , watches as her van is loaded with toys . She says for the struggling families who will receive these toys , there is a huge impact . `` At least on Christmas they can give their children a Christmas like any child , '' she said . `` So it 's been a huge help . ''
Bins used to store toy donations remain empty at Boston Toys for Tots warehouse . Like many charities , the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program was hit hard by economy . Volunteers say that while donations appear to be up in some areas , demand also has risen . Nationally , corporate cash donations are down by about $ 1.5 million over last year .