MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- As the holidays draw near, Marines nationwide are supporting the annual Toys for Tots campaign.
According to Cpl. Christopher Griffin, the 2014 Toys for Tots coordinator for Oahu, the last three events have brought in approximately 300 toys. This year, Griffin, of Bonifay, Fla., said he hopes the campaign’s collection either equals or surpasses last year’s total of 24,000 toys collected.
This is Griffin’s second year involved with Toys for Tots, having been the assistant coordinator last year.
The campaign calls for brand new, non-wrapped toys for children from newborns to 15 years old. Griffin recommends avoiding violent toys if possible, like fake guns.
There are collection boxes aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii at the Marine Corps Exchange, Pass House, Vehicle Registration, Semper Fit Center, Forest City Hawaii, 21st Dental Company, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, Combat Logistics Battalion 3 and Special Projects Patrol Squadron 2.
Volunteers are needed for multiple events in November and December. Tasks include sorting toys and dropping off collection boxes. Though active-duty Marines are primarily needed to volunteer wearing their dress blue uniforms, spouses are welcome to help as well. Transportation is provided to take volunteers to the events. Volunteers who are helping with non-event tasks will be given Toys for Tots T-shirts.
Sgt. Christopher Austria, the training noncommissioned officer at Wounded Warrior Battalion West-Detachment Hawaii, collected toys from the Aloha Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Nov. 8 and Sunday’s Race for a Cause at Kahuku Motocross Park. He started helping Toys for Tots since he now lives on Oahu and 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, the reserve unit traditionally in charge of Toys for Tots, was his previous unit.
“It’d be nice if we could get more outer island events,” Austria said. “I’m originally from the Big Island and we don’t have any Marines showing up for the Big Island events.”
Austria wasn’t the only Marine from the detachment volunteering. Lance Cpl. A.J. Johnson volunteered for Race for a Cause. He also participated in Toys for Tots events in Texas last year. Johnson, of Haledon, N.J., said when he was injured, he had a lot of support from everyone around him, and wanted to “pay it forward” by helping others. During Sunday’s event, Johnson said the children were taking photos with the Marines as they donated toys.
“The kids were great,” Johnson said. “They really had a great time taking pictures. They were excited about the whole process.”
Active-duty Marines aren’t the only ones volunteering for Toys for Tots. Lenny Ho, the commandant of the Marine Corps League Aloha Detachment 363, will be helping out with an upcoming event with the Aloha Chapter of NSDAR.
Ho volunteered for Toys for Tots for two years while a reservist.
"I had (a) habit of volunteering for everything,” Ho said. “(Toys for Tots is important) to help out kids (in need). I have compassion for kids.”
The last day that volunteers will collect donation boxes is Dec. 13. The last day to donate toys before Christmas is Dec. 18. Though Griffin said all toys collected are normally completely distributed each year, if there are extra toys, the Marines will give them to children who may be affected by natural disasters.
To volunteer for Toys for Tots, call Griffin at 348-4534 or email christopher.griffin3@usmc.mil or kbaytft2014@gmail.com. For more information, visit kaneohe-bay-hi.toysfortots.org.