Maggie Brierly, 8, and her brother Andrew, 4, look at some of the donated gifts for Toys for Tots on Friday, December 7, 2007. Maggie, who celebrated her birthday Nov. 19, donated all her birthday gifts to the holiday program so other children will receive presents this holiday season. In the background are piles of food items donated to and gathered through the Lawrence Board of Realtors seventh annual Holiday Food Collection for Kids.

Maggie Brierly knows the meaning of sharing.

On her eighth birthday Nov. 19, she invited her friends to bring gifts to donate to Toys for Tots of Douglas County instead of adding them to her piles of toys at home.

“Some kids around the world don’t get that many toys for Christmas and won’t have a very good Christmas, but if they get one it might be better,” she said.

On Sunday, others will have the opportunity to follow in Maggie’s footsteps. They can participate in the Toys for Tots “Drive for 500” by donating toys or cash during the event, which will be between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive.

The annual event features free food, door prizes, a silent auction, children’s activities and the opportunity to have a photo taken with Santa Claus or a Marine. The U.S. Marine Corps began Toys for Tots in 1948 to help children who may not receive a new gift during the holidays.

Besides Toys for Tots, there are plenty of other chances to donate goods, money or time in the community this month.

Lawrence adopt-a-family programs have hundreds of families still on waiting lists. Between the Ballard Community Center and Penn House, there are still 345 families waiting to be adopted.

Paul Hunt, human services director of the Ballard Community Center, said there is a much higher need this year.

“We still have seven-person families left and everything in between,” Hunt said. “We have a lot of support, but have a ways to go. We’re at the halfway point.”

The deadline to adopt families is Dec. 19. To adopt a family, call the Ballard Center at 842-0729 or Penn House at 842-0440.