Many children who would otherwise not have presents on Christmas morning will be happily surprised thanks to efforts of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive and the helping hand of Pen Air Federal Credit Union. Pen Air Federal Credit Union was able to collect an estimated value of over $1,000.00 in new toys for children ranging in age from infant to teens to be distributed in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day by various non-profit agencies that look to Toys for Tots to assist many families in need.
Over the last 67 years of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 416 million toys for 195 million needy children. This charitable endeavor has made U.S. Marines the unchallenged leaders in looking after needy children at Christmas.
The mission of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation program is to collect new, unwrapped toys for needy children in the community during October, November, and December each year. However, local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, which include golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other voluntary events designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and monetary donations.
The local Marine Corps unit also spends many hours setting up drop box sites at various locations throughout the local community such as the Pen Air Federal Credit Union offices in an effort to collect as many toys as possible. “We are happy to use our offices as convenient drop-off sites for people of the community,” explains Patty Veal, Director of Public Relations at Pen Air Federal Credit Union. “The generosity of our staff, members, and local community never fails to amaze me as I witness the amount of new toys that come into our offices for those less fortunate.”
The Salvation Army partners with Toys for Tots to assist as one of the distribution centers and will spend much of the days prior to Christmas sorting and packaging up toys for families in our local community. The ultimate goal of the Toys for Tots program is to deliver a message of hope at Christmas to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, and patriotic citizens.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pen Air Federal Credit Union responds to Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive