MC League Begins Toys for Tots Campaign

The Marine Corps League began its Toys for Tots campaign recently with a goal of ensuring every child under 12 gets something under the tree this year.

Edward Quirin, Saint Clair, chairman of the county campaign, said the Marine Corps Reserves have been involved in this annual drive since 1978 and the county Marine Corps League, a group of former Marines, has been involved since 1984.

"We collect the new, unwrapped toys from now until December 15 when the formal campaign ends, but there are events that happen after that and we still accept toys and donations after the campaign end date. We bring them to the Salvation Army for distribution," Quirin said Tuesday.

According to the Toys for Tots Web site, the mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is "to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted." The goal is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will help them to "become responsible, productive, patriotic citizens."

"We try to help as many children as we can," Keith Laslow, a Marine Corps League member, said. "There is no reason anyone should go without at least one toy."

According to Pottsville Salvation Army records, the Toys For Tots campaign gave toys to more than 1,200 county children who were registered with the Salvation Army. The group believes the need will be greater this year.

"More people are applying for help through our social services than ever, although we haven't broken it down to how many children we have yet," Capt. Tammy Hench of the Salvation Army said. "I think of people who have never asked for help before are asking for it this year, so I am sure they will also need help with Christmas. Even at our soup kitchen meal on Fridays, our numbers have increased."

Capt. Adam Hench said making people more aware of the Toys For Tots program and other services might also increase the number of people asking for help.

"Ed (Quirin) does a good job with getting the word out and we are also working with other agencies to help as many people as we can," Adam Hench said. "We also want to reach out to those first-time people who are grasping for straws this Christmas."

Tammy Hench said gifts for older children seem to be the least common and any cash donations received are used to plug in the holes where gifts are needed.

And although the effort concentrates on those 12 and under, if there is an older sibling, a gift is included for them as well.

"Sometimes we can give games, a chess set or craft kits to the older children," Tammy Hench said.

Toys can be dropped off in collection bins around the county until Dec. 15.

Salvation Army members will distribute the toys along with a turkey, other grocery items and winter outerwear to families Dec. 17 and 18.

For more information about the program or to arrange to drop off toys, call Tammy Hench at 622-5252.