Toys for Tots bus on Delmar mission
Marine Reserve’s annual toy drive kicks off Sunday
The Capital Region Toys for Tots has brightened Christmas for impoverished children for years despite obstacles that included recession, ice storms and transportation snafus. A pandemic isn’t going to stop the Marines or U.S. Marine Corps Reserves who organize it.
This Sunday, Oct. 11, the “fill the big red bus” challenge takes place in Delmar at Delaware Plaza from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For safety, it will be a drivethrough, drop-off event.
Just bring an unwrapped, new toy to 180 Delaware Avenue and volunteers will get it onto the bus.
Last year, 224,624 toys were distributed to 195,999 kids. Donations will be accepted through the first week of December but it makes life easier for the volunteers and the children they help to have the donations by Thanksgiving.
In Bethlehem, secure donation boxes will also be located at Delmar Bistro, Hannaford Supermarket, Phillips Hardware, the Spotlight newspaper, O’slattery ’s Restaurant, Marsh Bus, The Wine Reserve and Robinson’s Hardware among other businesses. For locations in other towns and cities, contact keichler@capitalregiontoysfortots.org.
The enormous, cherry red bus that awaits donors in Bethlehem is a Marsh tour bus courtesy of Paul Marsh.
Organizer Steve Peterson said the pandemic sidelined tourists who enjoy seeing upstate fall colors. Peterson wanted to put the empty bus to charitable use.
“The Marines who eventually collect the toys will be wearing masks and gloves when they sort them at the warehouse,” Peterson said. “And they are planning a safe way to distribute the donations to the kids.”