Advanced Infantry Training Battalion - East hosts first Toys for Tots Fun Run

Photo By Damany Coleman | Marines from various companies in the Advanced Infantry Battalion – East take off at in a formation run during the battalion’s first ever Toys for Tots Fun Run, Dec. 3. Service members, civilians and other Department of Defense personnel participated in the event to raise awareness of Toys for Tots and to gather dolls, teddy bears and games to donate to children in the community.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

12.16.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Damany Coleman 

Marine Corps Installations East       

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- More than six decades ago, retired Marine Col. Bill Hendricks and Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to children and families in need. It was the idea of Hendricks’ wife, Diane, who had made a doll and asked him to donate it to an organization that gave toys to needy children. There was no such program for doing back then, Diane was determined to start one herself.

Since then, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program has devoted more than 60 years to less-fortunate families and children during the Christmas holiday. It has distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children. The service members and civil workers involved have proven themselves a permanent contender in serving the less-fortunate community.

The Marines, sailors and families of Advanced Infantry Training Battalion East have done their part in the Toys for Tots campaign by participating in the battalion’s first AITB-East Toys for Tots Fun Run at Camp Geiger aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, Dec. 3.

Service members and other Department of Defense personnel consolidated their toys into three traditional Toys for Tots boxes before the run, which was collected by a Toys for Tots representative from 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve.

Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Rademacher, battalion sergeant major of the AITB-East, said the fun run was important because it was another way for the Marines to aid the community and the less fortunate.

“It’s a great opportunity to give back,” said Rademacher. “I thought the event went very well, for the first one. There are a lot of things going on and we’re appreciative of those that were able to come out and join us today. I don’t know how many toys we collected, about three of four big boxes, as well as some monetary donations – all for a good cause.”

Lt. Col. John Armellino, commanding officer of AITB-East, said that service members already sacrifice so much for their country but this was an opportunity for Marines to collaborate with the community.

“Not only do you see Marines out here, you see family members and young children – that’s why we wanted to provide the service,” said Armellino. “It was a good opportunity to bring our AITB family together and the Marines’ families together.”

Armellino added that despite the event’s seemingly simple coordination and logistics, a lot of hard work went into it, making the fun run all the more worthwhile.

“The idea was just to run a couple miles and drop off some toys,” said Armellino. “But you can hear the Christmas music playing in the background, the families are here, the food and the traffic coordination – a lot of behind-the-scenes effort went into this. This event was not to recognize the AITB-East, but to bring awareness to the program. There are a lot of needy children out there and this is just another way for Marines to give back to their country and community.”

At the conclusion of the two mile run, participants cheered the remaining runners on so they could all enjoy hot beverages and food to help brave the chilling morning weather.

After grabbing a hot chocolate and a bite to eat, Lance Cpl. Scott Nechay, a company clerk with the battalion, said he believes the event was a success.

“It went pretty good,” said Nechay. “It was a good pace and we stayed motivated by the cadence. It seemed a bit chillier than everyone expected but other than that it was fun. I generally donate money to Toys for Tots but if you don’t have any way of where you can donate things to kids that need it, this is definitely something that’s beneficial. Everyone should know about Toys for Tots - it’s been around for years.”

For more information on donating to the Toys for Tots program, visit the website toysfortots.org.

• Date Taken: 12.16.2010
• Date Posted: 12.21.2010 15:11
• Story ID: 62427
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US