Toys for Tots kicks off local campaign

Willie Dash, the local Toys for Tots coordinator, is spearheading the annual campaign, which continues to serve needy children in the area. The national Toys for Tots campaign is celebrating its 77th year this year.

The Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots campaign officially opened Oct. 1 when officials began accepting letters from children and families. Collection boxes have also been distributed.

Dash said businesses can register online to receive boxes at www.orangeburg-sc.toysfortots.org.

“Everything can be done online,” he said, including to volunteer and donate.

Children write letters to Santa in care of the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program. Letters must come with a verification of need from a school guidance counselor or church pastor.

A S.C. Department of Social Services household summary, which confirms who is in a household and their ages, must also be included, Dash said.

Registration is being conducted online at www.orangeburg-sc@toysfortot.org.

The letters will be accepted until Dec. 1.

Community residents read the letters and adopt children, but the families of children who are not adopted will not have an opportunity to visit Santa’s Workshop this year.

“Volunteers will have things prepared. We pretty much pick things out. If individuals don’t give us an idea of what the child wants, we try to give them something close to what they would like,” Dash said.

He said while there are not as many adoptions this year, the giving campaign is still moving ahead.

“I don’t think we’re going to have as many adoptions with a lot of businesses cutting back on employees. A lot of the businesses seem to be scaling back, but we’ll still have some individuals this year that will adopt,” Dash said.

While a letter acceptance deadline of Dec. 1 has been set, Dash said the program will work to accommodate those who may have emergency needs.

Bikes, remote-control toys and dolls are among items kids request the most, he said.

Dash said clothes are also requested, but the program does not furnish clothing. He said there are individuals who adopt children specifically asking for clothing, though, making the need for families to get their letters in early even more important.

“We do have a number of churches that participate every year. They pretty much take the boxes and do the collections. Some have adopted in recent years,” he said.

The program assists children from birth to age 14 in its service region. New, unwrapped toys will be accepted, along with financial gifts for purchasing toys. The service region includes Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.

Dash said individuals can visit toysforttots.com and find the closest campaign to them and register under that campaign.

Individuals can donate online at www.orangeburg-sc@toysfortots.org if they wish.

Toys will be collected through Dec. 13. The toys will be distributed Dec. 14.

All donations made to the Orangeburg chapter stay in Orangeburg, Dash said.

The local program has an account with the Toys for Tots Foundation. All money goes through that account, but it comes back to the local Toys for Tots program, Dash noted.

Boxes are distributed to businesses for the collection of new and unwrapped toys, but that’s just one way the community, including churches, can participate in the effort.

Dash said individuals can volunteer their time at the warehouse or donate supplies, including large 55-gallon trash bags within which toys are bagged up.

Volunteers, of course, can also adopt families, read letters, etc. and are particularly needed during the registration and distribution process.

Dash said anyone wishing to volunteer with the campaign can do that online, too, or give him a call.

He said while the number of volunteers has somewhat declined, donations are up.

“We’ve had a steady increase as far as toy donations. Last year we served over 3,000 kids. So we’re still expanding as far as the kids that we’ll help support. It’s been balancing out pretty good,” Dash said.

He is confident the community will pull together to make this year’s campaign a success.

“Even though we actually don’t stand out like we used to, no matter what’s going on around here, there’s a number of organizations that are involved in supplying stuff for the kids. Orangeburg has always supported our program,” Dash said.

Despite the occasional hurdles, Dash has found purpose in the mission.

“I always got something for Christmas,” he said, but helping children and families that do not is his reward.

“When you see some of the ones who are really in need, it’s the reward that keeps you going from year to year,” said Dash, who also serves as commandant of the Greater Orangeburg Leathernecks Marine Corps League, Detachment 1259.

People interested in donating a monetary gift or sending in an application can mail it to: 1701 Belleville Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115. All donations should be made out to the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots.

For more information, Dash can be contacted by phone at 803-290-2718 or by email at orangeburg.sc@toysfortots.org.