’Tis the season to give to Marine Corps Toys for Tots holiday campaign

  • Published
  • By Mary H. Allen
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  As the holiday season heats up, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is again participating in the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign by hosting collection sites for new, unwrapped toys for children until Dec 15. Marines and volunteers will gather the donated toys and distribute them as Christmas gifts to children in the area.

The Marine Corps Unit Military Police Charlie Company is located on base, and Gunnery Sgt. Ben Patat is the Toys for Tots coordinator for the base and Greene and Montgomery counties.

"Last year, 55,000 toys were collected and given to various needy families," said Patat. "The smile on each child's face is worth all the effort and energy put in the program. Without the local community's generosity and the volunteers, none of this could be accomplished."

Over its life span, the program has distributed more than 469 million toys. There are many opportunities for those who wish to donate a toy or even volunteer. The Toys for Tots Foundation created a website -- http://daytonoh.toysfortots.org - about the charity to inform the local community of ways to get involved. Volunteers can:
   › Request a toy drop site;
   › Make online donations (Please ensure to click on Dayton, Ohio);
   › Find locations of drop off boxes;
   › Register children for donations;

For more information, visit the Toys for Tots website or on Facebook at "Dayton Ohio Toys for Tots." Contact Patat at 937-257-0157 or by email  Benjamin.patat@usmc.mil.