Toys for Tots campaign begins anew

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TOYS NEEDED — Berny Reece of Houlton places a box for Toys for Tots at S.W. Collins in Houlton. The annual toy campaign has assisted more than 700 youths annually with toys at Christmastime.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — This year, more than ever it seems, there is a need to help those less fortunate children who may not have such a Merry Christmas.
    Thankfully there are groups like Toys for Tots on hand to make sure that no child goes without at least one small token gift this holiday season. And while donations are coming in much more slowly this year than in year’s past, the local Toys for Tots organizer is hopeful that trend will turn around.
    “This is my second year doing this great program,” said Berny Reece, Aroostook County Marine Corps League Detachment 1368. “Last year, we assisted over 700 youth in my area to have a Christmas that they would never had unless they had received toys from donations of money and new toys from the public as well as our foundation. This year, with the economy the way it is, we are probably looking to serve more.”
    If a community does not have a Marine Corps Reserve Unit, the campaign can be conducted by a Marine Corps League Detachment group, such as the one based in Houlton.
    The Aroostook County Marine Corps League Detachment 1368 will be collecting new, unwrapped toys during the first part of December. The toys will then be distributed as Christmas gifts to the needy children in the community.
    Reece is the Toys for Tot coordinator for southeastern Aroostook County. His area of responsibility is Mars Hill through Houlton and Hodgdon down to Danforth. Other Toys for Tots coordinators are Blanche Russell for southwestern Aroostook County and Rudy St. Peter for northern Aroostook County.
    This year, the foundation’s money to local areas was cut in half, so the Toys for Tots group is trying to reach as many businesses as it can to try and get some support for this year.
    “The economy has affected everyone for sure, so money is just not out there,” Reece said.
    For Reece, getting involved in the Toys for Tots program was a natural step for him.
    “We started the Marine Corps League a couple of years ago,” Reece said. “Two years ago, I went to training school, through the Marine Corps League, to learn more about it. That got us started here in Aroostook County.”
    Toys for Tots boxes can be found at the following locations: the Houlton Pioneer Times newspaper, Houlton Chamber of Commerce, Sherwin Williams and S.W. Collins in Houlton. Boxes and donations cans can also be found at the Bridgewater Town Office, Mars Hill IGA, Mars Hill Pharmacy and the Fosters on the Run store in Mars Hill. Reece added all money collected locally is spent in Aroostook County.
    Toys are typically sought for children from infant to 16 years of age. The toys will be picked up each Friday until Dec. 20.
    Those who would like to make a donation may do so online at www.toysfortots.org and direct their donation to a specific area. Any businesses that would like a donation box are encouraged to contact Reece. Monetary donations can also be mailed to Reece at 8 Alfred St., in Houlton. For more information, call Reece at 538-6964.
    Local Toys for Tots Campaign coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, including golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other voluntary events designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and monetary donations.
    “Checks will be forwarded to the foundation and will be put on a credit card to be used to buy toys for this area where the donations came from,” added Reece.
    Since beginning the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program in 1947, Marines have distributed more than 452 million toys to more than 209 million needy children. This charitable endeavor has made U.S. Marines the unchallenged leader in looking after less fortunate children at Christmas. Over its life span, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has supplemented local toy collections with more than 98 million toys valued at more than $694 million; plus provided promotion and support materials valued at over $8.5 million.