First big snow doesn’t stop the Toys for Tots event
Olivia Burns, left, Terry Brink, Jillian Herstine, Bob Stratton, Lovina Riggs, and Linda and Bruce Beck stand with a few of the toys.
In a first-time event, the United States Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program distributed toys to area children from Crossroads Restaurant near East Sparta on Friday, Dec. 15. The toy giveaway was organized by retired Marine Bob Stratton with help from Terry Brink. The event was the work of nine area people who helped share the effort involved.
“We have more than $10,000 worth of toys to hand out today,” Stratton said.
The distribution was somewhat hampered by the arrival of the season’s first serious snowfall, which made travel to the restaurant somewhat hazardous.
Afterward, Stratton said more than 60 children had come to collect their toys. “Many of those kids might not have had anything otherwise,” he said. “There were a lot of kids at the beginning, as soon as we started, with their parents getting out ahead of the storm.”
No application process was necessary to receive a toy. “Any kid who needs a toy is welcome,” Stratton said.
Balls, stuffed animals, race-car sets and many other kinds of toys were available on large tables in the large banquet area at the rear of the restaurant. The average value of the toys was $15-20.
Santa and Mrs. Claus also were on hand to talk with children.
Bruce and Linda Beck, owners of Crossroads Restaurant, said they were happy to offer the space. “It’s a very worthwhile thing to offer toys to so many kids,” Bruce Beck said. “We have plenty of space for it, so we’re happy to do it.”
Linda Beck said the facility hosts numerous large events over the holiday season.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys throughout the months of October, November and December and distributes them to less fortunate children during the Christmas holiday season.
The toys are meant to be a symbol of hope. The program had its official origins in the mid-1990s as an outreach program of the Marine Corps. It was initially in response to helping soldiers’ families who were hit by defense cutbacks. The Toys for Tots program has grown steadily since and has delivered more than 530 million toys to nearly a quarter million children.
“The kids were really just delighted to get a new toy,” Stratton said of the distribution. He said a similar event in Warren Township provided another 55 children with new toys.
Stratton said a recent Bargain Hunter story about the program resulted in a $2,000 donation from a reader. “We are very grateful for the help that money provides.”
Though the distribution at Crossroads Restaurant is a new event this year, Stratton said they’ll be back again in 2018. “We will absolutely keep doing this, everywhere we can.”
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program maintains an extensive website with more information about the program at www.toysfortots.org, where monetary donations also may be made.
Putting in the work of setting up such events is something the volunteers were happy to do. “Seeing these kids and their faces when they come up and choose a new toy for themselves, that makes it all worthwhile,” Stratton said.