U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program starts up
Ensuring that every kid in Southeastern Tulare County has a chance to unwrap a gift this Christmas is something Grace Munoz-rios is working hard to make happen.
“Our goal is to be able to get enough toys to give to as many children as possible in the community whose parents cannot afford to do Christmas,” said Munoz-rios, the local community organization coordinator for the Southeastern Tulare County U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
The goal in terms of the amount of toys, Munoz-rios said, is enough for 6,000 children living in Porterville, Lindsay, Terra Bella, Ducor, Springville, Woodville and Pleasant View among other cities in Southeastern Tulare County.
The target age for the toys, Munoz-rios said, are kids aged 0-13. She said the majority of kids who receive toys through the Toys for Tots program are referred to by their school teachers.
“The teachers are the ones that refer the children because we feel they know which ones are the most needy since they see them all the time,” Munoz-rios said, adding that teachers at each campus participating in the toy drive gets three referral forms. “And the child that they refer, all of their brothers and sisters are included.”
Munoz-rios said referral forms are turned in to her before Thanksgiving so she and volunteers have enough time to get toys. After that, she said the schools take the toys back to the school site where parents can pick them up.
“It works out really good because that way there is not a transportation problem for the parents,” Munoz-rios said. “They just go to their local schools.”
When picking up toys, Munozrios said it is best if parents don’t bring their kids.
The last time to donate toys or make a monetary donation, Munoz-rios said, is the weekend of Friday, Dec. 8.
“That weekend my volunteers will go all over and pick up the boxes from all of the places where they are at,” Munoz-rios said, adding that last-minute donations are still acceptable. “We allow people to take last-minute donations to the Porterville Chamber of Commerce or they can call my number [544-1775] and we can make arrangements for them to drop them off at the warehouse.”
Munoz-rios said those wanting to help the cause can either donate a new, unwrapped toy worth anywhere between $20 to $25 or make a monetary donation. She said monetary donations can be made online at www. toysfortots.org or by mail by making a check payable to Toys for Tots to 345 W. Belleview Ave. in Porterville.
Munoz-rios said she and some volunteers will participate in the city’s Veterans Parade and the Christmas Children’s Parade where people can also make a donation.
Munoz-rios said people can also donate a toy at The Nasty Habits 6th Annual Toys for Tots Car Show on Saturday, Nov. 18 in the parking lot of the Pizza Factory, 897 W. Henderson Ave.
The show, which is put on to benefit the Toys for Tots program, runs from noon to 4 p.m. with rollin from 8 to 11 a.m.
The vehicle entry fee for those wanting to participate is $25 or $15 with an unwrapped toy. Munoz-rios said there will be raffle prizes and top 40 awards.
“People can come out and they get an opportunity to bring a toy and also win a prize,” she said.
Drop-off locations for Porterville:
Bank of Sierra #1 Main St.
Bank of Sierra #2 Olive Ave.
Burton Elementary School
Aniville Bbq-olive Ave.
Brent’s Body of Life98 W. Doris
City of Porterville Heritage Center
CVS Pharmacy-oliveave-porterville
CVS Pharmacy-henderson-porterville
Golden State Autoolive Ave.
Giovanni’s Pizzasecond St. Gray’s Furniture Glad Tidings Churchwestfield Ave.
Citrus High Schoolmulberry
Chamber of Commerce - Main St.
Cellar Restaurant -No. Main
City of Porterville Main St.
COP Corp. Yard Prospect Ave.
COP Library - Thurman St.
Eagles Lodge - Henderson Ave.
Elks Lodge - Main St.
Enterprise Car Rental-olive Ave.
Foster Farms - Plano & Henderson
Galaxy 9 - Henderson Ave.
Granite Hills High School - Putnam Ave.
Harley’s Tavern, South Main
Harmony Magnet Academy
Harris Furniture-2nd and Putnam
Jim Maples Academy-westwood
Kings Mental Healthmain St.
Los Robles School Mulberry Ave.
Maurice’s - Henderson Ave.
Merl Stone Chevrolet - Henderson
Myer’s Funeral Service - North E St.
Olive St. School - Olive Ave.
Pleasant View School - Poplar
Precision Brake & Wheel - Main St.
Porterville College College Ave.
Porterville Dev. Center - Worth Rd. Ktip Radio AAA Security Guards
Seventh Day Adventitst Church
Steven Porter, MD386 N. Villa, Ste A
Porterville Chamber of Commerce-main St.
Olsen Computers Porter Road
Monache High School-henderson & Newcomb
Mena’s Party Rentalmain St.
Porterville Fire Dept #1 - Cleveland Ave.
Porterville Fire Dept #2 - Newcomb Ave.
Porterville Area Coordinating Council - Plano & Date
Porterville Police Dept - D St.
Porterville Recorder Oak Ave.
Porterville Unified
School District-grand Proteus, Inc - Main St.
RJ’S Cafe - Putnam &D
Roche Avenue School - Roche & Morton streets
Sierra Self Storagegibbons
Starbuck’s - Henderson Ave.
Studio 66 - Putnam Ave.
Suncrest Bank - Olive Ave.
Tulare County Sheriff’s Office - 3rd St.
The MECCA - Main Street
Tulare Co. Federal Credit Union - Main St.
Union Bank - Main St.
UPS Store - Henderson Ave.
Westfield Elem School - Westfield
U.S. Marines Recruiter-henderson
Wm Buckley Elemwestfield
Walgreen’s Pharmacy-olive Ave.
Western Dental Henderson Ave.
Rite Aide Pharmacymorton Ave.
The Village at Henderson-1711 W. Henderson
SAFE 1-Prospect, Ptv
Drop-off locations for Lindsay: Straw Hat Pizza Tony’s Pizza Bank of America Bank of Sierra Lindsay Gardens Lindsay Presbyterian Church
Lindsay United Methodist Church
Lindsay Parks and Leisure Jefferson Elementary Washington Elementary
Lindsay School District Office
Lindsay Adult Education
Lincoln Elementary Lindsay High School Roosevelt Elementary Healthy Start Office Lindsay Wellness Center USA Staffing- Lindsay Lindsay Church of God
J.J. Cairns High School Reagan Elementary Drop-off locations for Terra Bella Terra Bella Lions Terra Bella Truck & Trailer