HELENA – The United States Marine Corps Reserve is once again asking people to open their hearts this holiday season and make a donation to Toys for Tots.
More than 140 locations are located in the Helena area and they are hoping to receive upwards of 14,000 new, unwrapped toys this year.
In 2017 the organization gave around 12,000 toys to 1,800 kids, including Intermountain and Shodair.
Local coordinator Howard Mears, a Marine Corps veteran, said these toys mean the world to these families and it is a very emotional experience when they pick them up each year.
“When someone comes for the first time to get the toys, they’ll walk onto the floor and they will start leaking,” said Mears motioning to his eyes, “And of course we see that and we start leaking too and then we’ve got puddles all over the floor.”
Mears would also like to thank the community for all their support they’ve shown over the years.
“It is very touching to see the gratitude of these people for the generosity that Helena provides for us. It’s just absolutely wonderful,” said Mears.
Toys will be picked on December 11 and will then be distributed on December 15 at the Salvation Army Gym at 1905 Henderson.
Monetary donations can be made online at the Helena Toys for Tots website.
