Centre County Toys for Tots is up and running again in 2017.
A program to collect toys for needy children started by the Marine Corps Reserve in 1947, this is the 31st year of a countywide campaign in Centre County. The campaign is coordinated by the Centre County Marine Corps League chapter, the Nittany Leathernecks Detachment.
There are currently about 300 collection points in Centre County and toys and food will be collected until Wednesday, Dec. 13. Wrapping of the toys will begin on Friday, Dec. 15 and run through Sunday, Dec. 17 with additional days only if needed. Collection points and the wrapping schedule are available at https://lemont-pa.toysfortots.org.
Those seeking assistance in providing toys to their children should contact their local food pantry. Centre County food pantries and food banks identify those in need and will provide Centre County Toys for Tots a list by age and gender of the children to receive the gifts. A list of Centre County food pantries and food banks and contact information can be found here.
Because of the importance of the food pantries to the campaign, Toys for Tots helps in collecting food as well. Food items may be taken directly to a local food pantry, but any food received with the toys at other collection points will then be distributed to the food pantries along with the toys.
Monetary donations are also accepted which allows for purchase of toys in the age groups that are always short on gifts — infants to two-year-olds and for children ages 10 and above.
Those donations may be made directly to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation online or by check made payable to “Marine Toys for Tots” and sent to Allstate Insurance 1380 N. Atherton St., State College, PA 16803.
Any monetary donations received are forwarded to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation but then held in a sub-account for use in Centre County. Donations received this year will purchase toys next October for the 2018 campaign just as the funds from last year purchased nearly $20,000 in toys this year.
Questions may be directed to Gene Weller, Major, USMCR (Ret), coordinator, Centre County Toys for Tots, at 814-234-9831 or Elweller@aol.com
