DAPHNE, Ala.—The United States Sports Academy’s Toys for Tots collection ended last Friday, and the campaign saw a late spike in donations that resulted in this year being one of the largest collections for the academy, Communications Coordinator Leigha Bolton said.

“We had well over one thousand (toys collected),” Bolton said. “We had over two and three thousand. We’re still waiting on the exact number.”

The beginning of the campaign saw a decrease in the number of donations compared to years past, Bolton said, citing the economy as the only explanation.

However, on Dec. 9 a group of Spanish Fort Elementary School students visited the academy and brought toys for the collection, which helped increase the numbers, Bolton said.

The academy is still accepting toy donations, which will be sent to the Salvation Army.

“Collections for the Salvation Army continue to pour in,” Bolton said. “The amount has doubled each day this week.”

There is no official end-date for the collection, Bolton said, adding that “if people still want to bring (toys), then we will take them to the Salvation Army.”

The Daphne-based academy has teamed with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Foundation for 16 years now. The Marine Corps started the Toys for Tots campaign in Los Angeles in 1947.

Since the inception of Toys for Tots, more than 400 million toys have been distributed to more than 188 million needy children.

For more information about the academy, visit www.ussa.edu.