COARSEGOLD – The Coarsegold Historic Village is proud to to be one of the public donation locations for the 2015 Marine Corps Toys for Tots gift drive. The other location is at Von’s Shopping Center in Oakhurst.
Sponsored by the Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce, collection will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Toys can also be dropped at off at numerous locations throughout Eastern Madera County. Just look for the Toys For Tots banner outside participating locations.
According to the Toys for Tots official website, all toys should remain unwrapped for donation. Gifts are accepted for children up to 16 years old. Realistic looking toy weapons and gifts with food, if donated, will not be distributed.
“As the holidays arrive, we’re reminded how important it is to be a contributing member of our communities,” says Dave Wolin, president of the Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce. “We’re happy to be participating in the toy drive for the wonderful Toys for Tots Foundation, and hope to see our members and friends contributing by collecting toys for the children of Madera County.”
While purchasing items for smaller children is a pretty simple task, donors often wonder what to get pre-teens and teens. The Toys for Tots website recommends sporting equipment, toiletries, board games, books, hand-held electronics and similar items.
Begun in 1947 by Colonel William L. Hendricks, at the time a Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, the Marine Toys for Tots program has collected and distributed toys to needy children for more than 60 years and has drop-off locations in communities large and small all over the nation.
Over 400 million toys have been distributed to more than 188 million less fortunate children since the program began. Toys for Tots was designated by the U.S. Secretary of Defense as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1995.
