Toys for Tots - Thanks
The Marine Corps League of Sitka “Toys for Tots” program collected 1123 new toys or cash donations for Sitka kids this past Christmas season! This wonderful program’s success would not be possible without the generous contributions of the people of Sitka.
On behalf of the Marine Corps Reserve, who initiate the nationwide program and the Marine Corps League of Sitka, Robert B. Johnstone Detachment, I wish to personally thank the community, businesses and schools who provided drop off and deposit boxes for donations: Sitka High, Blatchley Middle, Keet Goocshi Heen, Baranof Elementary, and Mt. Edgecumbe High School, S.EA.R.H.C Hospital, Market Center, True Value, Harry Race Pharmacy, McDonald’s, The Cellar, Ben Franklin, A.C. Lakeside Grocery, Old Harbor Books, and Sea Mart.
As an added note of generosity, after our official collection day on December 15th, I traversed about town to pick up the Toys for Tots boxes the next week to find many boxes with more toys again! Wow- Thank you
A special thank you is in order for the generous and superb efforts of Roger and Barbara Hames of Sea Mart who promoted the program from the store with a live radio broadcast co-hosted by Larry Schneider and Dan Belair. Thanks are in order for Captains Turnie Wright and Major Evadne Wright and their staff of the Salvation Army who were instrumental to the toy drive's success and also distributed the collected toys. This is a monumental task in itself. And finally, Thank You to Nels Lawson for upholding, with their personal efforts, this grand Marine Corps tradition of the Toys for Tots toy drive which will make many young children and their families very happy.
Although the donation tabulation is impressive, we wish to emphasize that each and every donation, be it big or small, from every child or adult is sincerely appreciated.
Thank you Sitka!
Semper Fi (Always Faithful)
Bernie P. Gurule
Commandant
Nels Lawson
