MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- As the holidays approach, Marine Corps Reserves begin collecting donations for the 2011 Toys for Tots Campaign.
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point started their Toys for Tots campaign with a huge kickoff event at the station theater, Nov. 12. Residents from Cherry Point and the local community lined up early in the morning to give an unwrapped new toy to the Toys for Tots organization and get their copy of Nicholas Sparks’ new book, “The Best of Me.” Upon purchasing the book they waited for their group to be called to meet the famous author and get him to sign their book.
Sparks is a New Bern native and has written several best-sellers including The Notebook, Dear John, A Walk to Remember, and Message in a Bottle, all of which have been adapted into major motion picture hits.
“Toys for Tots is an amazing program that has helped thousands of people a year,” said Sparks. “I first learned about this program when I meet my father-in-law more than 20 years ago. He is a Marine and so is my brother-in-law and they both have worked closely with the program.”
Sparks said he and his wife have donated to the Toys for Tots program since they married.
“I believed in this program from the beginning,” said Sparks.
“I have donated to this program since before I was an author. Being here at Cherry Point helping promote Toys for Tots is a huge honor.”