Toys for Tots campaign under way

QUANTICO - When you visualize a marine, one of the first images that can pop into your mind is of a steely-eyed, battle-hardened “Devil Dog” with a weapon in one hand.

As Christmas draws ever nearer, replace that image with this one: a Marine in Dress Blues, bending down to hand a child a toy.

That’s because from now until Christmas, Marines are taking on another mission as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys for distribution to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

“We’re up and running right now,” Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon with the Quantico Toys for Tots campaign said last week.

On Nov. 5 and 6, Marines were collecting toys for the program at area Toys R Us locations, Gordon continued.

“There are Marines at every Toys R Us in the Quantico campaign area,” he said.

The Quantico campaign’s warehouse in Stafford County also received its first shipment of toys Nov. 5, and already has received requests for help this year. The program supplies toys for infants through children ages 14. Gordon said the Quantico campaign has a goal of distributing 250,000 toys this year.

Sgt. Matthew Johnston, who has worked with the program for three years, said that is an attainable goal.

“It’s a lot of work,” he said. “You’re going to be putting 18 hour days in once December comes, making sure that everything runs smoothly, making sure that everyone we promised something to gets taken care of. We can’t make a promise we can’t keep.“

Toys for Tots has a new way for people to help out the program this year. The program’s sponsors are now accepting donations in any amount in exchange for a “train card.“

“The money comes in, we go out and buy more toys. The more money we get, the more kids we can help take care of,” explained Gordon.

You can also visit the program’s Web site at toysfortots.org to make a donation, or drop off your toys at one of the dozens of collection points around the area.

Fifteen different events will take place from now through December to benefit Toys for Tots. If you’re a hockey fan, come out to the Prince William Ice Center in Dale City on Nov. 29. The National Capitol Region Hockey Team, comprised of active duty and retired military personnel, is taking on the DC Police Hockey Team. Admission to the game is a new, unwrapped toy with a value of $10 or greater that will be donated to Toys for Tots.

For more information about Toys for Tots or how to volunteer, call Gordon at 703-784-3701 or via e-mail at . You can also contact Johnston at 703-843-3695 or via e-mail at .

Julia LeDoux is a staff writer for Media General’s News & Messenger. Contact her at .