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Michelle Obama visits Quantico's Toys for Tots Date published: 12/17/2009
BY CHELYEN DAVIS
First lady Michelle Obama visited Marine Corps Base Quantico's Toys for Tots operation yesterday and urged the public to donate gifts for older kids. Mrs. Obama brought toys for all ages that had been donated by White House staff; about 30 percent of those donations came to Quantico. Mrs. Obama toured the distribution center on U.S. 1 south of the base, and she thanked Marines and their families for the effort. "The work that you do, particularly in these economic times, are so important," Mrs. Obama said, according to a press pool report. "And what you guys represent, the Marine Corps is that in a time where you all are already serving and making such a huge sacrifice, all of you--the troops and their families--that you show America that you can dig even deeper in this time, and put your time and effort into making sure that kids all around this country have something wonderful to wake up to on Christmas morning, that's what America is all about--people already sacrificing, stepping up and doing a little bit more." Mrs. Obama noted that bins of toys for younger children were full, but those for older kids were not. "If you're 11, you're still waiting for Santa, and you still want to make sure that they have something in the stocking." Sgt. Matthew Johnston in the distribution center said that Mrs. Obama is correct that they need more toys for older kids--from 8 to 14, he said. "Every year they suffer, every single year," Johnston said of that age group. He said Quantico's Toys for Tots program has a goal of collecting 150,000 toys this year; so far they're at about 83,000. "It's been kind of slow this year, but it's starting to pick up, and it looks like we're going to get closer to our goal than we thought we were going to get," Johnston said. Starting today, people who want to donate toys will have to take them to Quantico's distribution center. They're accepting toys through Dec. 22, Johnston said. Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
To make donations or volunteer visit
http://quantico-va.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.asp or call 703-843-3701.
Cash donations are also accepted, which then may used to purchase toys for the older children.
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