Photo By Frances Seybold | Marine Col. William C. Bentley III, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Quantico...... read more read more
Subscribe
The season of giving is here but gifting can be expensive! Toys for Tots, a non-profit organization founded in 1947 and operated by the Marine Corps Reserves, helps families who may be in need of assistance in surprising their children with holiday presents.
The mission of Toys for Tots is to collect new toys and distribute them to less-fortunate children across America. This year, the Northern Virginia (NoVa) area Toys for Tots campaign needs assistance to increase efficiency and productivity for the Fredericksburg warehouse.
“We do this aside from our primary mission,” said Gunnery Sgt. Mac Stucky, a motor transportation chief and two-year coordinator for NoVa Toys for Tots. “Our main focus is to make sure each of our units are successful.”
Marine Forces Reserves 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, plays a large role as frequent volunteers in the area’s Toys for Tots program. Along with their primary MOS duties, these Marines contribute their time, effort and Christmas spirit to the organization.
The NoVa campaign is comprised of only two Marines and five civilian full-time volunteers. They are responsible for maintaining their warehouse, organizing events and recruiting volunteers for those events.
Their staff distributes donated toys to children in need within these 16 localities: Arlington, Caroline, Culpeper, Fairfax, King George, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland counties; and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg.
Stucky said right after Thanksgiving is when they start to see a lot of toys rolling in. Black Friday to the first week of December is when donated toys “reach the ceiling,” but even then, would not have enough toys to be given to every family in need.
Due to the 2017 busy yet productive season, Stucky earned the Region ll coordinator of the year award. With the region’s 652 volunteers, 315 from the community and 337 from the military, they worked a total of 2,441 hours.
Oftentimes, the staff is obliged to stay past business hours, or “extend” them, to ensure the organization is on time to distribute toys during the main operating months of October through December. They still find themselves falling behind, only playing catch-up with overtime.
“It is not unusual to spend 18 hours in the facility on a given night during the holidays,” said Wilma Vaughn, a 40-plus-year-long volunteer for Toys for Tots. “Spouses and family members of volunteers would even have to come to the shop just spend time with their loved ones.”
For staff like Stucky, his wife and five kids give their time to a good cause so they can can be close to one another leading up to Christmas.
“It means a lot more to us to dedicate an hour of time to assure that the toys make it to the children,” he said.
They finish collecting toys December 12 and will conclude their campaign December 15, in order to clean out the warehouse before Christmas. They wrap-up the process early to distribute all donations in time to take leave for the holidays, yet that is not always the case.
“There are so many things that can happen that could have you working on Christmas Eve instead of spending time with your family,” Stuckey said.
With his favorite phrase, “let's make it happen,” Stucky and his team of volunteers take on the task of distributing the toys; getting the toys to the families is the most difficult and time consuming part of the process.
“There are 101 events in the first two weeks of December, that require Marine volunteers,” said Vaughn. “The most memorable experience for the children and myself is when we have Marines show up and hand out toys in their dress blues.”
“Everyone loves being in the presence of a Marine,” exclaimed Stucky. “ That does not mean we don't want or need civilian volunteers!”
If you reside in any of the localities previously mentioned, please visit https://www.toysfortots.org for more information about volunteering, donating, applying for assistance or to learn more about the foundation.
Stucky says, “I urge the Marines to get on board and help a brother out!”
| Date Taken: | 12.10.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2018 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 302837 |
| Location: | QUANTICO , VA, US |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Toys for Tots: Support the Supporters, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT