Toys for Tots brightens smiles in Atlantic County

Nov, 24-2009 1:48 pm

By MICHAEL FEELY
Staff Writer

Last year, the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program distributed more than 16,000 toys to 7,000 children in Atlantic County. This year, with our present economy, the need is greater. Ron Powell, retired Marine and long-time Brigantine resident, and Phil Uecker are co-coordinators for Atlantic County’s Toys for Tots program.

“Already, the requests from churches, schools and other organizations have surpassed the requests from last year,” Powell said.

The Toys for Tots program is a full Marine Corps program. In 2004, at the Marine Corps League National Convention, the general of the Marine Corps Reserve requested that the Marine Corps Leagues take over the program as many of the Reserves had been called to active duty.

Residents of Brigantine have strongly supported this program for many years. It has been said “It is better to give than to receive.” Those interested in donating should drop toys off by Dec. 16, the date when all drop-off boxes will be picked up for distribution. Drop-off boxes are located at Brigantine City Hall lobby, The Links at Brigantine Beach, Bank of America, Ace Hardware, the Brigantine Elks Lodge, the VFW post, the American Legion building and the Laguna Grill. Toys need to be new and unwrapped for age groups from infant to 16.

The Toys for Tots program in Atlantic County has a toy store located in the Shore Mall in Northfield. Toys can also be dropped off there. In addition, there are 176 drop-off boxes in Atlantic County.

All toys and cash donations made to Toys for Tots in Atlantic County stay in Atlantic County. For information and to make cash donations, log on to www.atlanticnj.toysfortots.org.