( CNN ) -- The Marines have been making children 's Christmas dreams come true for nearly 60 years , but the corps may be seeing fewer smiles this year . Volunteer Betty Whelan sorts donated toys in a Toys for Tots center in Boston , Massachusetts . With demand up due to the poor economy and toy donations down , Toys for Tots , the Marine Corps ' program that distributes Christmas toys to children in need , is facing one of its toughest years , according to Bill Grein , the Toys for Tots Foundation vice president . Grein said the program last year distributed approximately 16.6 million toys and books , but this year he does n't think they will be able to reach that number . `` We always run out of toys before we run out of children , '' he said , but this year `` it 's a major problem . '' Grein said that the program is getting more requests than in previous years and cities like Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; Miami , Florida ; Fresno , California ; Atlanta , Georgia , and many others are hurting for donations . `` Every kid deserves a present , '' said Marine Sgt . Daniel Sampson of the Toys for Tots program in Boston , Massachusetts . `` Right now , we 're not sending out as much as we should be . '' In the Washington area , the Marines need to find toys for 82,000 children , but `` we are tens of thousands of toys behind , '' Master Sgt Timothy Butler said . If they ca n't fill the need and get every child on the list a toy for Christmas , Butler said , `` It 's gon na break my heart . '' Last year , the Marines were able to raise $ 13,000 in donations from people at Union Station , a major commuter hub in downtown Washington , but this year the Marines will be `` lucky to get half that , '' Staff Sgt . Johnny Noble said . In Atlanta , Toys for Tots administration chief Edward Barrett said they had received 241,814 donations , well short of their goal of 800,000 . Barrett understands that the economy has a lot to do with the lack of contributions , and he estimates that donations are down by about 30 percent this year . In San Francisco , California , Gunnery Sgt . Timothy Anthamatten said the Toys for Tots program there was also seeing a 30 percent decrease in toy and monetary donations . In Boston , last minute donations came to the rescue . According to volunteer Kay Carpenter , the Boston Toys for Tots program used money that came in last week to buy $ 15,000 worth of toys , hopefully , enough to fill all of their orders . But , nationally , Toys for Tots bins are still empty . `` We 're Marines and we set goals , '' Edwards said , `` and when we ca n't achieve those goals that 's frustrating . '' CNN 's Bethany Swain contributed to this report .
The Marines ' Toys for Tots program has had donated toys for 60 years . Bad economy has resulted in more requests for toys and fewer donations . Marines may fall short of 1 million toys donated last year . In Houston and San Diego areas , donations down 30 percent .