thedrifter
11-13-08, 08:56 AM
Toys for Tots gathers steam
By RICH PIETRAS
The Intelligencer
Santa's camouflaged helpers are at it again.
On Wednesday, the Willow Grove chapter of Toys for Tots — powered by the base's Marine Corps reserve and full-time units — invited area businesses to visit their operations. Officials hope the meeting will help them gain even more support for the program that distributed more than 160,000 toys to more than 74,000 needy children throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties last year.
The open house was not just for newcomers to the toy drive; it was a reunion of sorts for those who have been helping for years. And although the program will move to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey once the Marine Corps leaves the base come 2011, those involved remained committed as ever.
Sgt. Colette Begay of the Marine Aircraft Group 49 coordinates the local program, including some 900 area businesses that provide toys and support.
Pam Gibbs and Joan Logan of Capmark Finance on Welsh Road in Horsham said their company has participated for eight years. Capmark has four buildings at the Horsham location that collect toys for the Willow Grove distribution.
“It's a coordinated effort for us,” Gibbs explained. “The buildings have separate collection barrels, and then the mailroom helps to get the toys to (the base.) Our best year we collected over 1,200 toys.”
A couple years ago Logan and then-coordinator Sgt. Sara Schroeder found a way to incorporate their interest in Minis with the toy drive. Both owners of the small British cars, Logan — a member of the PhillyMINI club — ran her own drive and packed convertible versions of the vehicles as high as she could with toys.
“We are actually going to be marching in Hatboro's Holiday Parade this month with the Marines,” Logan said. “That will be something to see, Minis driving alongside military vehicles.”
Logan says they hope to collect even more toys at the parade.
Sgt. Major Don Miller, in his second year with Toys for Tots at Willow Grove, confirmed that along with the Marines, the program will be moving on in a couple of years.
Miller said 12 full-time Marines work from about Sept. 15 through Jan. 15 on the volunteer mission seven days a week. On the weekends, reservists join the cause.
Joe McKeown, vice president of outside sales and development at the Eckenhoff car dealership in Jenkintown, said his company had been involved with the Marines at Willow Grove since 1996, and they had already collected 3,000 toys over the last two weeks.
“We just pile them up around cars in the showroom and have fun with it. We try to create some excitement,” McKeown said.
Even if only for a couple more years.
Rich Pietras can be reached at 215-345-3119 or rpietras@phillyBurbs.com.
Ellie
By RICH PIETRAS
The Intelligencer
Santa's camouflaged helpers are at it again.
On Wednesday, the Willow Grove chapter of Toys for Tots — powered by the base's Marine Corps reserve and full-time units — invited area businesses to visit their operations. Officials hope the meeting will help them gain even more support for the program that distributed more than 160,000 toys to more than 74,000 needy children throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties last year.
The open house was not just for newcomers to the toy drive; it was a reunion of sorts for those who have been helping for years. And although the program will move to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey once the Marine Corps leaves the base come 2011, those involved remained committed as ever.
Sgt. Colette Begay of the Marine Aircraft Group 49 coordinates the local program, including some 900 area businesses that provide toys and support.
Pam Gibbs and Joan Logan of Capmark Finance on Welsh Road in Horsham said their company has participated for eight years. Capmark has four buildings at the Horsham location that collect toys for the Willow Grove distribution.
“It's a coordinated effort for us,” Gibbs explained. “The buildings have separate collection barrels, and then the mailroom helps to get the toys to (the base.) Our best year we collected over 1,200 toys.”
A couple years ago Logan and then-coordinator Sgt. Sara Schroeder found a way to incorporate their interest in Minis with the toy drive. Both owners of the small British cars, Logan — a member of the PhillyMINI club — ran her own drive and packed convertible versions of the vehicles as high as she could with toys.
“We are actually going to be marching in Hatboro's Holiday Parade this month with the Marines,” Logan said. “That will be something to see, Minis driving alongside military vehicles.”
Logan says they hope to collect even more toys at the parade.
Sgt. Major Don Miller, in his second year with Toys for Tots at Willow Grove, confirmed that along with the Marines, the program will be moving on in a couple of years.
Miller said 12 full-time Marines work from about Sept. 15 through Jan. 15 on the volunteer mission seven days a week. On the weekends, reservists join the cause.
Joe McKeown, vice president of outside sales and development at the Eckenhoff car dealership in Jenkintown, said his company had been involved with the Marines at Willow Grove since 1996, and they had already collected 3,000 toys over the last two weeks.
“We just pile them up around cars in the showroom and have fun with it. We try to create some excitement,” McKeown said.
Even if only for a couple more years.
Rich Pietras can be reached at 215-345-3119 or rpietras@phillyBurbs.com.
Ellie