SILVERDALE, Wash. — Marine Corps Security Force Battalion-Bangor (MCSFBn) Marines and Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) Sailors collected Toys for Tots at Toys ‘R Us Silverdale, Dec. 17.
Toys ‘R Us stores donate $4,000 annually to the local Toys for Tots campaign and Toys for Tots Kitsap funded another $1,000 worth of toys to be collected at the store.
Sailors and Marines ran through the store, filling carts with toys to be donated for 30 minutes.
“This has been my first year participating in a Toys for Tots run,” said Marine Corps Sgt. Keith Delahanty, an Aberdeen, Washington native assigned to MCSFBn. “It’s an amazing thing to be a part of and great to see so much support for the campaign.”
Seattle Seahawks mascot Blitz donated his time to help collect toys and raise awareness of the local Toys for Tots campaign and the support behind it.
“We are very grateful for the support we’ve had throughout this campaign,” said retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jason Selby, who organized the event. “We’re making this money stretch as far as we can to reach as many children as possible.”
The off-the-shelf donation was two days before the distribution so toys for children ages 0-3 and 9-16 were mainly focused on collecting.
“We’re always glad to help out, especially during this time of year,” said John Burkhart, Toys ‘R Us staff.
The toys collected were brought to be distributed at the Kitsap Fairgrounds Dec. 19 during the annual distribution which had MCSFBn Marines and SWFPAC Sailors helping with sorting and coordinating at the event.
“We all appreciate the opportunity to volunteer and give back especially when it benefits and directly impacts the less fortunate,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Jesse Beltran, an El Paso, Texas native assigned to SWFPAC.
More than 12,000 toys have been collected throughout the Toys for Tots Kitsap 2015 campaign and more than 2,000 children participated in the distribution.
“This wouldn’t have been a success if it weren’t for every one of you,” said Selby as he ended the distribution with a speech to the volunteers. “The late Sam Martin, who’s been running the program for the past 26 years, wanted it to be more successful than ever and we’ve done that.”
For more information about Toys for Tots Kitsap, visit: http://belfair-wa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx.
Date Taken: | 12.19.2015 |
Date Posted: | 12.21.2015 13:18 |
Story ID: | 185062 |
Location: | SILVERDALE, WASHINGTON, US |
Web Views: | 106 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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