Marines and Toys for Tots need more than 30,000 toys in next week
-
This sesason, USMC Maj. Travis Carlson’s leading his second Toys for Tots campaign here in the valley. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com
video
This sesason, U.S.M.C. Maj. Travis Carlson’s leading his second Toys for Tots campaign here in the valley.
“We’re getting better at it,” he said. “Hopefully, we get everything we need done this year.”
Carlson’s first tour, in 2011, saw a record number of applicants.
And this year surpassed his first.
“Last year,” he said, “we supported about 15,000 individual children. This year’s looking more like 18,000.”
With less than a week of toy-collecting remaining, Carlson and other valley marines still needed more than 30,000 toys. Looking in the crates in their warehouse, gifts for kids ages 10-12 seemed especially lacking—gifts like LEGO sets for boys.
“I’ll tell you, for girls [that age] we’re so low [on toys] I can’t even get an example for you,” Carlson said.
But if toys continued to arrive at the same pace they have so far this season, Carlson believed his marines would meet their goal, making him a perfect two for two since taking this assignment and 18,000-plus Christmases complete.
“It is gratifying,” he said. “Knowing that there are families out there that would not have had anything for Christmas if it weren’t for this program: That makes you warm at the end of the day.”
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.