thedrifter
12-20-06, 06:46 AM
Article published - Dec 20, 2006
Tribe that owns River Rock Casino delivers more than 1,300 items to program run by Marines Pomo donation gives Toys for Tots big boost
MARK ARONOFF / The Press Democrat Marine Pfc. James Grunewald, left, of Florida and Pfc. Robert Sprague of Santa Rosa unload a truck with toys at the Santa Rosa fire station on Sonoma Avenue on Tuesday.
By Clark Mason
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A truck full of toys arrived at the Santa Rosa Fire Department on Tuesday afternoon, part of the biggest single contribution this year to the Toys for Tots program in Sonoma County.
The donation from the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians helped the toy campaign meet its goal for the holiday season, according to organizers.
"This really puts us on track for what we need this year," said Cpl. Clint St. Martin of the U.S. Marines Reserve, which oversees the Toys for Tots program. "We're going to make mission this year."
More than 1,300 toys were donated by the Dry Creek Pomos, including basketballs, CD players, DVDs, dolls, board games, makeup kits, jewelry, books and stuffed animals.
Overall, the Toys for Tots program will supply 20,000 toys to children in Sonoma County, St. Martin said.
While the majority of the donated gifts from the Pomos went to Toys for Tots, some also went to the Toys for Kids program operated by Santa Rosa firefighters.
"To have this come in just before Christmas is fantastic," said Santa Rosa Fire Chief Bruce Varner. "It's a tremendous boost for the program."
The toys will go out to needy children and families and will be distributed by a variety of groups, including churches, shelter groups and orphanages and other nonprofits, according to St. Martin.
The Dry Creek Band of Pomos, which operates River Rock Casino in Geyserville, also is contributing food and blankets to the underprivileged in Sonoma County this holiday season.
Along with the toys, the donations total approximately $28,000.
Meanwhile, The Family Giving Tree, another charity that oversees gift distribution in 14 Bay Area counties, also was reporting strong donations.
"We're doing great," said spokesman Bob Cullenbine. He said a 120,000-square-foot warehouse in Milpitas - the size of three football fields - is filled with gifts that will go to more than 63,000 children served by 246 social service agencies.
As opposed to last year when donations were slow, he said, "I look at what we've got today and we're not in trouble.
"Things are looking great," he said, calling the response from corporate sponsors and individuals who picked wishes off the tree "super."
Ellie
Tribe that owns River Rock Casino delivers more than 1,300 items to program run by Marines Pomo donation gives Toys for Tots big boost
MARK ARONOFF / The Press Democrat Marine Pfc. James Grunewald, left, of Florida and Pfc. Robert Sprague of Santa Rosa unload a truck with toys at the Santa Rosa fire station on Sonoma Avenue on Tuesday.
By Clark Mason
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A truck full of toys arrived at the Santa Rosa Fire Department on Tuesday afternoon, part of the biggest single contribution this year to the Toys for Tots program in Sonoma County.
The donation from the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians helped the toy campaign meet its goal for the holiday season, according to organizers.
"This really puts us on track for what we need this year," said Cpl. Clint St. Martin of the U.S. Marines Reserve, which oversees the Toys for Tots program. "We're going to make mission this year."
More than 1,300 toys were donated by the Dry Creek Pomos, including basketballs, CD players, DVDs, dolls, board games, makeup kits, jewelry, books and stuffed animals.
Overall, the Toys for Tots program will supply 20,000 toys to children in Sonoma County, St. Martin said.
While the majority of the donated gifts from the Pomos went to Toys for Tots, some also went to the Toys for Kids program operated by Santa Rosa firefighters.
"To have this come in just before Christmas is fantastic," said Santa Rosa Fire Chief Bruce Varner. "It's a tremendous boost for the program."
The toys will go out to needy children and families and will be distributed by a variety of groups, including churches, shelter groups and orphanages and other nonprofits, according to St. Martin.
The Dry Creek Band of Pomos, which operates River Rock Casino in Geyserville, also is contributing food and blankets to the underprivileged in Sonoma County this holiday season.
Along with the toys, the donations total approximately $28,000.
Meanwhile, The Family Giving Tree, another charity that oversees gift distribution in 14 Bay Area counties, also was reporting strong donations.
"We're doing great," said spokesman Bob Cullenbine. He said a 120,000-square-foot warehouse in Milpitas - the size of three football fields - is filled with gifts that will go to more than 63,000 children served by 246 social service agencies.
As opposed to last year when donations were slow, he said, "I look at what we've got today and we're not in trouble.
"Things are looking great," he said, calling the response from corporate sponsors and individuals who picked wishes off the tree "super."
Ellie