Georgia’s Own Credit Union boosts Toys for Tots effort in 2025

By Alan Mauldin

[email protected]

ALBANY – Local U.S. Marines and Georgia’s Own Credit Union teamed up again this year to make Christmas brighter for children who otherwise might not find anything underneath the tree through the annual Toys for Tots initiative.

The credit union is one of many businesses and organizations that helps the annual toy drive and distribution, started in 1947 by Marine Reserve Maj. Bill Hendricks, as a local partner in the nationwide program.

Despite reports of a slowing economy, new groups reached out this year to help out, said 1st Sgt. Paul Alejo Jr., the Toys for Tots coordinator for the Albany region.

Georgia’s Own also expanded its effort by bringing in branches from Americus, Bainbridge, Moultrie and other locations. Credit union locations as far flung as Augusta and Kingsland were part of the state drive.

“We have done this for 43 years (in Albany),” Brianne Heape, public relations manager for the credit union, said. “Georgia’s Own participated and donated over $10,000 in toys, in addition to the employee and member donations. One of our missions is to serve our communities, especially children, and give back to them.”

On Wednesday, Alejo was joined by four other Marines in their dress blues for photos and to load up the toys collected ahead of the distribution to families later in the week.

The credit union provided some of the larger toys, including bicycles and scooters. One group that often gets overlooked is children ages 10 to 14, Heape said, so that contribution is meant to make sure they’re included.

“The reason we decided to donate the $10,000 in toys is we want to make an impact on children,” she said. “We know toys are not just a joy to children, but also for parents who get to see them unwrap them on Christmas. It’s something we’ve been doing in the area for so long the employees look forward to it, and the members do, too.”

Albany businessman Michael Brooks has been a long-time supporter of the program and provided a suite at Brooks Plaza for this year’s operations, Alejo said. Despite the government shutdown earlier in the year that prevented the big annual kickoff event, donations have gone well in 2025.

“It’s great to see, with the economy and the government shutdown, people are selfless and thinking about others,” he said. “There are a lot of locations that came onboard this year. We went from 50 last year to 75 to 80 this year. We still have collections next week.”

Families were able to make toy requests by going to the albany-ga.toysfortots.org website or in person at the Salvation Army location in Albany. Individuals interested in donation also may do so through the website.

“It’s a … you really can’t describe it; it’s an overwhelming joy because you see the look on some of the families’ faces,” Alejo said of his experience with Toys for Tots. “(It’s amazing) when people come up to you as an adult and they say ‘My family (needed) Toys for Tots when I was a kid,’ and they turn out to be some of the biggest donors.”