Ho, ho, ho. There's a little something extra in your Journal Times today and it's sure to lighten your heart.

More important, though, that something extra will also brighten the holidays for some youngster who might otherwise not find something under the tree on Christmas morning.

Our "gift" to you today is a bright green Empty Stocking Club envelope inserted in the paper.

Donations to the Empty Stocking Club are the major source of funding for Toys for Tots, the longtime Racine program that works tirelessly throughout the year to repair lightly used toys and acquire new ones to make sure that no local children will be skipped by Santa.

Toys for Tots itself is a child of the Depression - it originated more than 70 years ago, when Racine Boy Scouts decided to help other city children as a "good deed" for the holidays. The idea was advanced when the Good Fellers, a group of civic-minded members of the community, set up the funding program for the annual toy distribution. For many years the program was directed by Journal Times columnist Tex Reynolds, but for more than two decades now it has been guided by Don Karkow, former circulation director for The Journal Times.

When we caught up with Karkow last week, he noted the tough economic times right now and said that has already affected the sign-up for toy distribution.

"We're up about 200 kids over last year," Karkow said, and registration continues until Dec. 10.

"We'll just try to keep our head above water. You can tell the economy is not good."

Karkow said Toys for Tots expects to distribute gift packages to about 2,500 Racine area youngsters this year.

In the next two weeks, the finishing touches will be put on those packages by an army of local volunteers who work out of the basement of the City Hall Annex, 800 Center St. Repair work goes on all year - and so does the need for volunteers to do that work, Karkow said. Repaired toys are paired with purchased new ones, and the packages are put together based on the ages of each boy and girl registered by their families. Distribution of the gifts occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays the first two weeks of December.

"With the economy projecting down, we still need toys (for next year). Don't throw anything away," Karkow said.

Don't throw the envelope away either. Fill it with what you can spare and send it off in the mail; the postage is prepaid. If you prefer, you can make a contribution online through our Web site at

http://www.journaltimes.com/toys

As always we will publish the names of contributors as the list grows during the holiday season, or you can make a donation anonymously.

Your gift may not lift the economy, but it will most certainly lift your spirits and gladden the hearts of hundreds of youngsters across our community. Happy holidays.