Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base kicks off 2023 Toys for Tots campaign

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE-ALBANY — The Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base and Albany Salvation Army held a kickoff news conference Monday for the Department of Defense’s largest outreach program: Toys for Tots.

Base Toys for Tots Coordinator Staff Sgt. Trebien Leonard and Salvation Army Corps Officer Capt. Tasha Thomas expressed excitement for the campaign Monday morning as it allows them to help serve underprivileged families in their local community, Leonard said.

The program, which has grown into a nationwide initiative, consists of collecting new, unwrapped toys and delivering them to children for the holidays, he said.

“More than that, it’s about sending a powerful message about the importance of community involvement and making a difference,” Leonard said.

Donating a toy can make a tremendous difference in a child’s life, he added.

A huge percentage of families in Albany live below the poverty line, Thomas noted.

“Therefore, Christmas really is something that’s on the back burner,” she said.

The Toys for Tots program is an opportunity to help provide Christmas for the families who might not otherwise have one, Thomas said.

“A lot of people come desperate or at their wit’s end just trying to make ends meet, so we’re excited to be in a position … to offer them hope,” she said.

It’s also one of the ways MCLB-Albany is able to connect with the community, Leonard said.

The Albany campaign collected 8,831 toys, 480 books and 3,400 stocking stuffers for 1,920 local children in 2022, according to the After Action record.

The goal this year is to collect more than 9,000 toys for the Albany area.

“We want to get as much as we can so we can distribute as much as we can,” Leonard said.

Families who may be interested in signing up to receive donations can do so online at www.toysfortots.com/albany, or The Salvation Army offers in-person registration for those who may not have online access. In-person sign-up happens Monday-Thursday the week of Oct. 30 and the week of Nov. 6 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 304 W. Second Ave.

People interested in donating toys or money can use the same Salvation Army site for drop-off locations. Distribution days are Dec. 16 and 17.

Lucille Lannigan[email protected]