PORT ANGELES — Starting today, volunteers from the Mount Olympus Detachment No. 897 Marine Corps League will place U.S. Marine Reserve Toys for Tots donation boxes at more than 70 businesses and organizations across Clallam County.
These boxes will collect new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to local less-fortunate children.
On Nov. 29, volunteers will accept toy and cash donations at stations at Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St., and Walmart stores in Port Angeles, 3411 E. Kolonels Way, and Sequim, 1110 W. Washington St.
Donation stations will be staffed by volunteers throughout the holiday shopping season.
Last year, the Toys for Tots program distributed more than 6,800 toys to more than 3,150 children in Clallam County.
Program officials expect at least that many this holiday season.
Community support
That level of success couldn’t be achieved without strong local community support, according to local Toys for Tots coordinator Eric Miner.
“The local Toys for Tots volunteer team works very hard to make the Toys for Tots campaign a success,” Miner said.
“But we couldn’t do it without the help of concerned citizens, local community organizations and business leaders.”
Miner emphasized that every toy and cash donation made in Clallam County is used locally.
According to the nonprofit charity watchdog group Charity Navigator, Toys for Tots is a top-rated nonprofit charity — more than 97 percent of donations are used for real, direct support of the organization’s mission of helping less-fortunate children.
To find the nearest donation box, visit www.toysfortots.org and click on the “Donate a Toy” tab.
For questions about Toys for Tots or to request a speaker at a local event, phone Miner at 360-460-1031.