thedrifter
12-24-05, 09:05 AM
Marine Corps angels earn wings
December 24,2005
BY CHRISSY INGRAM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Though he lacked a white beard, red suit and round belly, some might have confused Lance Cpl. James Tolsin, 21, with Santa this year.
Thanks to Tolsin and the assistance of more than 20 elves - otherwise known as Marines from the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade - more than 60 foster children in Onslow County will find something extra under this Christmas tree.
The anti-terrorism brigade was busy in recent weeks gathering toys ranging from bikes to basketball goals, which were delivered to the Onslow County Department of Social Services this week.
They were toys that, for some families, would be all the foster children had this Christmas, said Loretta Keeling, program manager for DSS.
"What the families get here would provide their Christmas for the most part," she said. "Some of them have maybe only had the kids for a month, so this helps out tremendously."
Without the Marines, she said, the DSS Angel Tree program would have struggled.
"There are 158 kids in foster care right now," Keeling said. "All of the children were adopted through the program, and a big part of that was due to these Marines."
Angel trees were placed in Jacksonville Mall and Geoffrey's in Jacksonville, she said. Shoppers could then select an ornament off the tree to 'adopt' a child by providing a gift. Each ornament included the child's age and gender.
The Marines became involved after Tolsin formed the 'Non-NCO Program' in November for the MEB.
"We had a whole lot of energy and nowhere to direct it," Tolsin said. "We all agreed this was something we wanted to be involved in."
While Tolsin spearheaded the project, it was something the entire MEB wanted to be involved in, said 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Matthew Hickenbottom.
The group meets once a month to discuss ways they can be involved in serving the community.
"We fed three families at Thanksgiving through social services," Tolsin said. "You should have seen their faces. They said they didn't expect somebody to help them."
When the group asked for a list of foster children who needed to be adopted through the DSS Angel Tree program, the Marines decided to adopt all 67 of them. They got support from the entire MEB and ended up giving some kids four or five toys each.
"I'm not even Christian, I'm Muslim, but I have no problem doing things like this for the holiday season," Tolsin said. "The fact is that people need this. It's good to be able to do something like this â?¦ to know there are still good people out there."
The Marines' next goal is to get involved with the DSS LINKS program - a mentoring program for teenagers in foster care.
"The program helps teens transition from foster care into adulthood," Keeling said. "These Marines will be very needed in that program. They are so involved. This community would be lost without them."
Tolsin hopes those in the community will recognize Marines in a more positive light due to their service.
"We want to keep giving, giving and giving," he said. "And I know their attitude towards Marines will change."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Ingram at cingram@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, Ext. 239.
Ellie
December 24,2005
BY CHRISSY INGRAM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Though he lacked a white beard, red suit and round belly, some might have confused Lance Cpl. James Tolsin, 21, with Santa this year.
Thanks to Tolsin and the assistance of more than 20 elves - otherwise known as Marines from the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade - more than 60 foster children in Onslow County will find something extra under this Christmas tree.
The anti-terrorism brigade was busy in recent weeks gathering toys ranging from bikes to basketball goals, which were delivered to the Onslow County Department of Social Services this week.
They were toys that, for some families, would be all the foster children had this Christmas, said Loretta Keeling, program manager for DSS.
"What the families get here would provide their Christmas for the most part," she said. "Some of them have maybe only had the kids for a month, so this helps out tremendously."
Without the Marines, she said, the DSS Angel Tree program would have struggled.
"There are 158 kids in foster care right now," Keeling said. "All of the children were adopted through the program, and a big part of that was due to these Marines."
Angel trees were placed in Jacksonville Mall and Geoffrey's in Jacksonville, she said. Shoppers could then select an ornament off the tree to 'adopt' a child by providing a gift. Each ornament included the child's age and gender.
The Marines became involved after Tolsin formed the 'Non-NCO Program' in November for the MEB.
"We had a whole lot of energy and nowhere to direct it," Tolsin said. "We all agreed this was something we wanted to be involved in."
While Tolsin spearheaded the project, it was something the entire MEB wanted to be involved in, said 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Matthew Hickenbottom.
The group meets once a month to discuss ways they can be involved in serving the community.
"We fed three families at Thanksgiving through social services," Tolsin said. "You should have seen their faces. They said they didn't expect somebody to help them."
When the group asked for a list of foster children who needed to be adopted through the DSS Angel Tree program, the Marines decided to adopt all 67 of them. They got support from the entire MEB and ended up giving some kids four or five toys each.
"I'm not even Christian, I'm Muslim, but I have no problem doing things like this for the holiday season," Tolsin said. "The fact is that people need this. It's good to be able to do something like this â?¦ to know there are still good people out there."
The Marines' next goal is to get involved with the DSS LINKS program - a mentoring program for teenagers in foster care.
"The program helps teens transition from foster care into adulthood," Keeling said. "These Marines will be very needed in that program. They are so involved. This community would be lost without them."
Tolsin hopes those in the community will recognize Marines in a more positive light due to their service.
"We want to keep giving, giving and giving," he said. "And I know their attitude towards Marines will change."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Ingram at cingram@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, Ext. 239.
Ellie