Toys For Tots celebrates successful 2015 campaign

Semper fidelis is more than just the motto of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It is a phrase to live by. Every year since 1948, the USMC has faithfully delivered Christmas joy to millions of needy children around the country.
That faithfulness will stand to benefit around 3,000 children this year in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.
Each child helped by Toys For Tots will receive three presents under their Christmas trees, as well as three stocking stuffers, said Joyce Buckingham, executive director of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center and the Carson City-area Toys for Tots coordinator.
“It’s about the same as last year,” Buckingham said concerning the charitable needs of the community. “We expect we will have served about 3,000 kids” and delivered around 18,000 toys.
At a ceremony Friday morning in the governor’s office, Buckingham accepted a check donation from Michael Giurlani, president of the Nevada State Law Enforcement Officers’ Association, on behalf of the Carson City area Toys For Tots foundation.
The presentation was part of a formal ceremony that put the finishing touches on the Nevada Department of Public Safety’s annual partnership with Toys For Tots; a commitment that has spanned more than 10 years, Capitol Police Officer Alice Valdez said.
“It’s about being part of the community and giving back to the community,” Valdez said. “People have been so generous.”
This year’s campaign has been very positive, Valdez noted, adding that Toys For Tots doesn’t just limit its giving to the needy. The local charity also provides Christmas joy to children in transition, such as foster care.
There are 85 drop-off locations this year, Buckingham said, including government offices, major car dealerships and several area churches, among many others.
One location, in particular, is taking its donations a step further. Capitol Cab Company is accepting both cash and toy donations from its customers. Cab drivers are showing their support for the Toys For Tots program by donating their tips to the charity.
Driver Mark Shepler is spear-heading the effort at Capitol Cab this year. He estimated that the company has collected at least 40 toys and $800 in cash donations so far.
“We’ve got more people participating this year,” Shepler said. “We hope to double what we did last year.”
In 2014, the company collected about $600 in cash donations, business manager Barry Lawless said, and already 2015 has surpassed last year.
Shepler said Capitol Cab will deliver its toy and cash donations to the Ron Wood Center on Monday. The cab company will be accepting cash or toy donations until 8:30 that morning.
Friday’s ceremony at the state Capitol included several members of the Nevada Department of Public Safety, including the Capitol Police, a detachment of U.S. Marines from Bridgeport, California, members of the media and, of course, Santa Claus.
“They came 100 miles to help out with this task,” Buckingham said, praising the support of the U.S. Marines. “These men and women are so giving of their time and efforts. Without them, we couldn’t do this.”
In addition to the toys, Buckingham said Toys For Tots has about fifty bicycles that will be given away in a drawing.
The success of the 2015 Toys for Tots campaign comes in the wake of Walmart’s decision to pull donation bins from inside its stores. Despite this, the Marines have still been able to accept donations outside of the stores on weekends this season.
Buckingham said Walmart’s decision to enforce its in-store no solicitation policy was a corporate one handed down from the retail giant’s headquarters. She said area store managers are actually very supportive of the Toys For Tots program and remain committed to the charity.
“The local Walmart stores have been very charitable on weekends.” Buckingham said, adding that representatives for the retail giant recently contacted her about awarding the Carson City Toys For Tots program with a private grant. This amount has not yet been determined, Buckingham said.
Toys For Tots has been collecting new, unwrapped toys for children nationwide each Christmas for the past 67 years. Anyone looking to still participate in Toys For Tots can stop by Adele’s Café for its “Cookies with Santa” event this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to benefit the children’s charity. The donation of a toy and $5 buys a photo with Santa Claus along with spiced cider and cookies for refreshments.
For more information about the Carson City Area Toys For Tots program, please contact program coordinator Joyce Buckingham through the Ron Wood Family Resource Center at 884-2269.