Marines to kick off Toys for Tots Thursday

Local News

Discussion

November 3, 2009

from staff reports The Meridian Star Tue Nov 03, 2009, 11:40 PM CST

U.S. Marines from Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron One on board Naval Air Station Meridian will kick off their local Toys for Tots annual campaign on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. at the Geoffrey store, next to Bonita Lakes Mall in Meridian.

Through the generosity of the local community, Marines collected 7,030 new toys last year and hope to exceed that number this year.

Toy donation boxes for new, unwrapped toys will be set up in Meridian at Geoffrey's, both Wal-Mart locations, Sam's Club, Meridian Yamaha, The Radio People Station, the Marine Corps Recruiting Station, and H&R; Block locations. Boxes are also at Wal-Mart in Newton.

U.S. Marines will be present at Meridian Wal-Mart locations, Geoffrey's, and Sam's Club on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. until Dec. 13, to assist those who wish to donate.

The primary goal of the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR, and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.

In 1948, Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo, which is used today. Disney also designed the first Toys for Tots poster used to promote the nationwide program. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.

Over the past 62 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children.

More information about Toys for Tots can be found at www.toysfortots.org.

This year's Toys for Tots Coordinator is Sgt. Joseph Killian. He can be reached at (601) 679-2407.

Text Only

Local News

Partnership in place for safety blitz
May 26, 2012
Keeping time with the Disabled American Veterans
When you are responsible for transporting area veterans to Jackson to meet their medical appointments, you better be on time.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Morning update for, Friday, May 25, 2012
May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Celebrating Jimmie
May 25, 2012 2 Photos
Feed your mind at Nexus Hero Brown Bag Lunch
May 25, 2012
Man faces kidnapping charges
May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Classroom Visit
May 24, 2012 1 Photo
The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos 1 Slideshow
Ronald McDonald House charity event scheduled
A 54-hole golf tournament is coming to Briarwood Country Club on June 26-29. The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will hold their Pro-Am Classic here in Meridian, but in addition to this all proceeds will go to a great cause – The Ronald McDonald House.

May 24, 2012
UBS in urgent need of blood
Due to unforeseen circumstances this month, United Blood Services has had some drives cancel, leaving the local hospitals at a critical shortage of blood.

May 24, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Marines to kick off Toys for Tots Thursday

Site Map

Contact Us