The holiday season is “the most” wonderful time of year! It’s a time for being with our loved ones and giving and receiving gifts. It’s a time filled with food, presents, and happiness. But for those who are less fortunate, the holidays can be a difficult time, especially for children.
Parents may not be able to purchase their children as many gifts as they’d like, new and trendy gifts, or possibly any gifts at all. In some cases, if anything, children may receive “gifts” that are more necessities, especially if funds are tight. EAC Network supports thousands of children every year through our programs and services, but unfortunately we don’t have the means to give presents to all of these children, no matter how much we would love to. That’s where the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program steps in to save the day!
The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy during the holidays, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. They collect toys all over the country and distribute them to children in need.
For many years, Toys for Tots in our local area, under the leadership of Major Chuck Kilbride, has supported the children in our programs with thousands of toys. Each year we receive more toys than we can even fit in our administrative office, and once those toys have been picked up by program directors to distribute to our children, even more are delivered. The Toys for Tots donations are overwhelming both in size and in generosity. We are so grateful to Toys for Tots for their continued service! Click here to view photos of past drives.
This holiday season, please consider donating new, unwrapped toys for the less fortunate children across Long Island and New York City via Toys for Tots. To find a drop-off location nearest you, click here.
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Sarah Muller is the Development & Marketing Assistant for EAC Network. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in English.
