It’s getting down to crunch time.

And Terry Pinheiro is worried.

An Escalon Fire Department battalion chief, Pinheiro said firefighters will be picking up the Toys for Tots collection boxes later this week … and donations have so far been slow in coming.

“We’re hoping this last week they start coming in more,” Pinheiro said. “We will be picking up from those locations that are closed on the weekends on Friday (Dec. 19) and other locations we will get the boxes on Saturday.”

Distribution day for families in the area in need and attended the sign-up day earlier this month is set for Monday, Dec. 22 at the firehouse on Coley Avenue.

“We are really in need this year,” Pinheiro said, adding that the fire department, local American Legion Post and police department, along with community volunteers, will handle the distribution starting at 10 a.m. on Monday.

Nearly five dozen families have been signed up for the annual Toys for Tots effort, Pinheiro said.

Residents can bring new, unwrapped toys to any one of the multiple collection points in the city and are needed for all ages, both boys and girls up to about 14 years of age.

Collection sites are at Big Boy Market, D’Boni’s Pizza, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Learning Tree Preschool, Escalon City Hall, Bank of the West, El Portal Middle School, Vintage Pharmacy, Main Street Market, Oak Valley Bank, BBVA Bank, Ace Hardware, Escalon Fire Station 1, Pizza Plus, Escalon Christian Reformed Church, Trinity Church, Escalon Premier Brands (main office), Emil’s Liquors, Dent Elementary School and The Big Dipper.