OFF THE WIRE
BY: JESSICA SMITH
Source: dailydemocrat.com
The need was greater than ever Saturday as the Yolo Marine Corps League held its 27th annual Toys for Tots drive at the Yolo County Fairgrounds.
Some 1,711 families signed up to receive toys collected by the local Marine Corps detachment. Around 3,200 toys were collected, according to organizers.
Volunteers, unfortunately, did have to be careful to make sure people stuck to the amount of toys allowed per child as a result of the tight economy.
League spokesmen said this season has been difficult for many people, and donations reflected that. The number of children in need this year was about 200 more, but donations had dropped from 5,000 made in 2009.
Besides many private contributors, five sororities in Davis collected
Gloria Shaffer assists a person in selecting a toy for her children. (Jim Smith/Democrat)500 toys for the drive in addition to traditional donations coming from traditional donors such as the Road Runners Motorcycle club. Contributing from Davis were Delta Chi, Alpha Gamma Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Delta Delta Delta.
Detachment 627 has been collecting toys by way of bins outside of more than 100 county businesses throughout Woodland, Davis and West Sacramento for at least the past six weeks.
People who registered through Yolo County Social Services arrived at a pre-arranged time between 8 and 11:30 a.m. to select their toys.
"In the past we've had people rushing the door of Waite Hall at the fairgrounds, filling up the parking lot," said Corps member Bob McGriff. "This lets us stay organized and make sure no
one is waiting in line for very long."
Each person needing a toy was escorted by volunteers from "Clever Clovers" 4H Club and Boy Scout Troop 131, to be of assistance. The volunteers also watched the tables of toys to make sure when toys got low more could be placed out for selection.
Tables were organized by age, and then by interest, such as books, arts and crafts, and sports.
Volunteers and members of Detachment 627 were still glad to do what they could. Corps member Scott Wilcox said, "It's an outstanding opportunity to help the community, to organize this kind of event."
Even though the drive itself lasted only a few hours, planning and preparing for it is a year-round effort.
Other contributors to the event were the Sierra Ramblers, Dan T Jewelers, Sacramento Valley Soaring Society, Rite Aid Distribution Center, Alphabet Moon Toy Store, Davis Swim and Fitness Gym, and Dr. Richard Portalupi, a Woodland orthodontist.
