Throughout the country there are parents and guardians that cannot afford to purchase Christmas toys for their children due to financial hardship, job loss and other unfortunate circumstances.
The Toys for Tots program in San Diego is now in full swing with major events planed for November and December that will help to ensure those children can wake up to new toys underneath their tree Christmas morning.
Every year the goal of the program is to give kids toys for Christmas.
This program also gives children hope in knowing that there is a campaign to help them out explained Gunnery Sgt. Ricardo V. Villanueva, the San Diego County Toys for Tots coordinator.
The local branch of the program, based at 4th Tanks Battalion, 4th Marine Division, in San Diego, is planning approximately 180 events throughout San Diego County, for this year’s holiday season.
Marines will collect toys at the USS Midway Nov. 21, where a helicopter will drop Santa Claus off; they will be at the Qualcomm Stadium, Nov. 29, while the San Diego Chargers battle the Kansas City Chiefs; and they will be at NBC’s studios in San Diego, Dec. 10 and 11.
The large events can bring in up to 15,000 toys, explained Staff Sgt. Patrick Russ, the Toys for Tots Western States Region Coordinator of the Year for 2008.
Last holiday season the program in San Diego distributed 185,000 toys to 57,000 kids.
“To put it in perspective, 57,000 kids would fill PETCO Park, [the San Diego] Sports Arena, and still have 6,000 kids outside,” said Russ. “It would also take that many kids two days to ride the Space Mountain ride at Disneyland, running at full capacity.”
Coordinators with the program work with foster homes, youth centers, churches, after school groups and homeless shelters to distribute toys to children in need.
“Working for the Toys for Tots program gives Christmas a different feeling than it ever had before, knowing my Marines and I have affected so many kids,” said Russ.
People can take donations to the 4th Tank Battalion at 9955 Pomerado Road, any of the Toys for Tots events and the drop boxes throughout the county. Toys donated to the program should be new toys in their original packaging.
Toys and money donated in San Diego County stays in the county, explained Villanueva.
In addition to the people who donate toys and the Marines at 4th Tanks, it takes Marine volunteers to help get the job done.
“We are always looking for volunteers,” said Russ. “In addition to bringing joy to children, volunteer hours can go towards the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.”
For questions regarding volunteer opportunities or donations, contact Villanueva at 858-537-8066. For information on the program, visit the Toys for Tots Web site at www.toysfortots.org. In addition to donating toys, people can donate money to the program through the Web site.
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