The 2016 Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign is underway, and Clallam County collection sites for toy donations are staffed by staffed by volunteers.
Toy collection sites are set up at the Walmart Supercenters in Port Angeles (3411 E. Kolonels Way) and Sequim (1110 W. Washington St.) and at Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St.
The sites will be staffed by volunteers from the Mount Olympus detachment of the Marine Corps League and other veterans service organizations on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17.
Patrons of the stores are asked to donate either a new, unwrapped toy or cash to enable the Toys for Tots volunteers to purchase toys for specific age and gender ranges of kids that are underrepresented in donations.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program was founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Reservists in Los Angeles California.
In 2015, Toys for Tots provided more than 18 million toys to 7 million children in need nationwide.
Clallam County’s program donated over 7,000 toys to 2,600 children in the county.
Agencies served by Toys for Tots include the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, the Salvation Army, LIFT Court, Foster Parents Association, several local churches, Clallam County Outreach, Quileute and Makah tribal family service agencies, and Sequim Community Aid, among others.
Toys are distributed through social service agencies or private charities.
For questions regarding the program, contact Steve Deutermann, Clallam County coordinator for Toys for Tots, at 360-477-2913.
