Marines to kick off Toys for Tots

Local News

Discussion

November 4, 2008

Anonymous The Meridian Star Tue Nov 04, 2008, 11:46 PM CST

from staff reports

The first signs that Christmas is on the way are here — stores are filling with ornaments and decorations, some holiday early birds have already begun putting up their trees, and this year's Toys for Tots campaign will kick off this Thursday.

The kick off of the Naval Air Station Meridian Marine sponsored campaign will take place at 10:30 a.m. at Geoffrey's toy store near Bonita Lakes Mall.

Through the generosity of the local community, Marines collected nearly 7,000 new toys last year and hope to exceed that number this year.

Donation boxes for new, unwrapped toys are now set up in Meridian at Geoffrey’s, both Wal-Mart locations, Sam’s Club, Big Lots, Meridian Yamaha and both Community Bank locations. Boxes are also at Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia and Extreme Wireless in Newton.

Toys will be distributed to The Wesley House Community Center and the Salvation Army in Meridian.

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.Their logo was designed in 1948 by Walt Disney.

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

This year’s local Toys for Tots coordinator is Sgt. Antonio Ferguson. He can be reached at (601) 679-2792.

Text Only

Local News

Serving the community
February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Chisolm named deputy director
February 2, 2012 1 Photo
MCC program gets ‘outrageous’ start
February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Amtrak Exhibit Train coming to Meridian
February 2, 2012
Doors of newly renovated city hall opened to the public
The wait is finally over ...
Meridian's newly restored city hall has reclaimed its place as a majestic focal point in downtown. More than five years in the making, the doors of the nearly 100-year-old building were reopened to the public Tuesday during an open house ceremony.

February 1, 2012 2 Photos
Veteran sentenced in shooting
A military veteran who was charged with the shooting of his wife two years ago was sentenced Monday in Lauderdale County Circuit Court to 20 years.

February 1, 2012
Shelter from the storm
The memory of Hurricane Katrina has not faded much in the seven years since that devastating August day and because of her lasting impression, Lauderdale County is still reaping the benefits of a proactive approach to preparing for any and all types of natural disasters.

February 1, 2012 1 Photo
Money woes delay police station
Construction of a new police station has stopped and isn’t scheduled to resume until March 15, project developer David Watkins confirmed Tuesday.
Watkins said the project, renovating an old grocery store building on 22nd Avenue into a new police station that will serve the entire department, has taken significantly longer than expected to finance.

February 1, 2012
Supervisor voices opposition to site
District 2 Supervisor Wayman Newell says emphatically he is not against the county securing a grant from FEMA for the proposed $3.2 million Lauderdale County Community Shelter.
He understands fully the welfare of county residents lies heavily on the shoulders of county officials in making well rounded decisions that will benefit the most people without putting an undue financial burden on the taxpayer. But at the same time, Newell said if the vote had been Monday to approve or reject the acceptance of the funding, he would have voted against the project.

February 1, 2012
Student Visit Burton
February 1, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Marines to kick off Toys for Tots

Site Map

Contact Us