Toys for Tots picking up steam
Northwest Montana
News Network
Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve-sponsored program, is celebrating its 61st year of collecting, purchasing and distributing new toys to needy families across the country. The national kick-off for the non-profit program was Friday, Nov. 21.
Primarily, the goal of Toys for Tots is to "deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders," according to the Toys for Tots Web site.
The Flathead Valley detachment, operating out of Kalispell, is very active in Toys for Tots. There are collection/drop-off sites throughout the Valley. The collection and distribution of toys is authorized by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
Carey Dill is the new Flathead Valley detachment coordinator. He has worked with the Toys for Tots program for the last four years, picking up donated toys.
John Olsen was the detachment coordinator last year, with assistance from his wife, Lou. They have been involved with Toys for Tots since 1987, and they are on hand to continue assistance with the program.
"It's a fantastic job in what they've done," Dill said. "That's a couple of pairs of shoes that are hard to fill."
Last year, through the generosity of local people, Toys for Tots was able to provide new and unwrapped toys for more than 1,300 children in about 540 families in the Flathead Valley. The first year, Toys for Tots in the Flathead provided toys for 90 kids.
A key element of Toys for Tots is that money raised through tax-deductible donations stays in the Valley, and toys collected go to local kids.
The Toys for Tots effort got an early boost from the local Harley Davidson Motorcycle Club, which collected $1,900 to buy toys for children. Dill said wooden toys are again being made locally, and for the first time the Glacier High School wood shop class is constructing wooden cars for the cause.
Dill recently made a trip to Spokane to pick out $1,500 in toys donated by Toys R Us.
"Anytime that you can see a smile on a kids face for getting a new toy it's a good feeling," Dill said. "It's well received. It's one of the Marine Corps' finer moments."
There are about 50 Toys For Tots volunteers in the Valley. The Flathead detachment gets valued help from many clubs and organizations, such as Moose, VFW, Eagles, Elks and Disabled American Veterans, and Kiwanis and Lions clubs.
Anyone who would like to volunteer is urged to contact Dill at 257-1077. Leave a message if he's unable to answer.
Toys are picked up at drop-off sites and transported to former Kelly Main Street Furniture in Kalispell.
This year's Toys for Tots holiday effort will be capped by two days of distribution on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20 and 21.
For further information about Toys For Tots in the Flathead Valley, go to Web site www.toysfortots.org.
Drop-off locations
Columbia Falls
Whitefish Credit Union, 320 Nucleus Ave.
Cardinal True Value, 1795 Highway 2 West
Plum Creek, 500 12th Ave. W.
Nite Owl Restaurant, Highway 2 East
Glacier Bank, 822 Nucleus Ave.
UPS Store (inside Super 1 Foods), 2100 W. 9th St.
Whitefish
Whitefish Moose, 230 W. 10th St.
Don K Chevrolet, 6219 Highway 93 South
Real Estate Exchange (inside Super 1 Foods)
The Wave, 1250 Baker Ave.
Ed Jones Investment, 140 E. 2nd St.
Whitefish VFW, 20 Baker Ave.
Grouse Mountain Lodge, Highway 93 and Fairway Drive
Flip Spinal Care, 301 East 2nd Street (S.W. corner of building)
Subway, 6428 Highway 93 South
Bigfork
Vet Center, 7950 Highway 35
Flathead Bank, 800 Grand Ave.
Rocky Mountain Bank, 8165 Highway 35
Tall Pines Lounge (Lake Hills Shopping Center), Highway 35
Lake Hills IGA Grocery, Highway 35
Carlson Chiropractic, 8543 1/2 Highway 35
Kalispell
Silvertip Engraving, 2302 Highway 2 East
Able Body Shop, 2025 Highway 2 East
ASMC Recruiter, 285 N. Main St.
First National Bank, 85 N. Main St.
Citifinancial, 1420 Highway 35
Robinson Tree Lot (in front of Shopko)
Shopko, 1370 Highway 2 East
K-Mart, 2024 Highway 2 East
UPS Store, West Idaho Street
Kari Dodge, 1177 Highway 2 East
The Summit, 205 Sunnyview Lane
Eisinger Motors , 2562 Highway 93 North
Express Personnel, 4 Sunset Plaza
West One Bank, 2604 Highway 2 East
Valley Chiropractic, 2117 Highway 2 East
Semitool, 655 W. Reserve St.
Wendy's, Highway 2 and Reserve St.
Wendy's, 520 E. Idaho St.
Carol Ann Scranton, D.D.S., 160 Heritage Way
Harley Davidson, 2480 Highway 93 South
Scarff Auto, 1212 S. Main St.
Glacier Bank, 16 2nd St. W.
Lowitz Custom Shoppe, 322 2nd St. W.
Rosauers, 2150 Highway 93 South
Hilton Garden Inn, 1840 Highway 93 South
Imagination Station, 132 Main St.
Mountain West Bank, 444 W. Idaho St.
KAJ-TV, 310 1st Ave. E.
First Interstate Bank, 2 Main St.
White Oak Grand, 4824 Highway 93 South
Montana Department of Public Services, 121 Financial Drive
KOFI Radio, 317 1st Ave. E.
Kalispell Toyota, Highway 93 South.