GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Grissom Marines concluded their annual Toys for Tots drive after collecting new, unwrapped toys for local children.
The Marine Corps Reserve has been involved with the program for over 70 years. This fall, the local unit set up 50 distribution points in seven surrounding counties collecting enough toys for 3,200 children.
The Toys for Tots Foundation provides the first shipment of toys to the detachment while the remainder are donated or purchased through monetary donations.
Sergeants Trevor Williams, Andrew Velez and Rachel Mahan, Detachment One, Communication Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group, organized this year’s drive.
“We start putting this together in October,” Williams said. “We also work with the Salvation Army and Goodfellows to do our sign-ups.”
The partnership provides families with a Christmas meal, winter clothes and toys.
“To me, this is a huge deal right here,” said Brian West, a Goodfellows board member. “We do the necessities for the kids – socks, underwear, coats, gloves and boots. But this is what Christmas is about. This is what the kids want, the toys. And these guys fill that void.”
With the help of corporate sponsors and local donations, the Marines collected 12,000 toys. Each child receives three toys, a puzzle or game and three stocking stuffers.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Makayla King, one of the parents whose child received gifts. “I have little income and for them to give out toys to kids whose parents can’t afford it is nice. Where I come from, they don’t do stuff like this.”
This year’s Toys for Tots drive raised $27,000 for next December’s event.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.
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