Krista Gatti of Jamestown has spent most of the last two years in and out of hospitals with two of her three children.

Her 10-month-old son Sebastian was born premature with a number of health issues, while her 2-year-old daughter Natalia was also born about 12 weeks early, the day after Christmas.

"As a parent, I felt terrible not really being able to provide at least a somewhat decent Christmas for the kids,” Gatti said. “It was a lot of stress on us. And we were actually figuring out this year how would we get birthday gifts for her and Christmas gifts for everyone."

With her fiancé out of work at the time as well, Gatti first turned to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program across Chautauqua County in 2015.

For the last three years now, the group has made the season brighter for her family.

"Every little bit helps out tremendous,” she said. “We'd probably be trying to salvage every last dime that we have, last-minute Christmas shopping."

Terri Johnson of The Resource Center has helped manage "toy central" in Jamestown for the last 18 years.

"We need toys,” Johnson said. “We have come to a situation where we are not able to fill all of our orders."

This year, there are 3,000 children on their list, up 400 from last season.

"There's people that are living in poverty,” said Johnson, who also serves as the coordinator for Toys for Tots in Jamestown. “This time of year really adds a lot of extra stress to families. And it's not that everybody isn't working, it's just that they can't make ends meet with the jobs that they do have."

Johnson said there are still 1,200 orders to fill, with only enough toys for 200, leaving 1000 children without anything to open Christmas morning.

Adding to the problem, Johnson said donations are down this year, with fewer toys being placed in the hundreds of collection boxes across the community.

"We have learned that everybody's struggling, so there may be people that have donated in the past that are really just not in a position to do so this year,” she said.

Which why Gatti is encouraging those who are able to help make up the shortfall.

Though her son faces three more surgeries in January, Gatti remains hopeful she'll be in a better spot to give back and donate next year.

"For me, it's just the satisfaction of helping someone else in need,” Gatti said. “No child should be without on Christmas."

Toys will be collected for all age groups until December 20.