Tuesday, 02 December 2008 17:13
On a bitter cold Saturday, the members of Zion Crossroads
Volunteer Fire Department collected over 760 new toys for the U.S. Marine
Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program.
Started in 1947 in San Diego, the Toys For Tots program collects local toys and distributes them to needy families within the community. Marine Corps Reserve Lance Corporal Mathias Varga, also a member of the fire department, said "personally this gives me satisfaction in that the joy it will bring that little kid when he unwraps that toy that morning from under the tree."
With the economy in trouble, the Marine Corps and the fire department joined forces to raise awareness of the increasing number of families that are facing financial shortfalls this holiday season. "Within our own department we've seen some personal struggles and financial issues," EMS Captain Jason See says. "So we know personally firsthand how hard it's going to be this Christmas and this holiday season."
Volunteers set up a large collection site at the Zion Crossroads Lowe’s Saturday morning and were joined by a special appearance of Santa. Many local businesses, such as State Farm, brought carloads of new toys. The toys will be distributed to children in Louisa, Fluvanna and Albemarle counties on December 22.
More on this story can be viewed at the WCAV-TV website.
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