Motorcyclists bring 'toys for tots' to Aquia
By JULIA LeDOUX
Source: Stafford County Sun
AQUIA - Dozens of motorcycles converged on Aquia Towne Center in Stafford on Sunday as members of the Band of Brothers USMC Riding Club roared in to provide less fortunate children in Northern Virginia with a Christmas to remember.
Marines and other volunteers were on hand to greet about 20 members of the riding club as they pulled up to a Toys for Tots warehouse shortly before noon.
"This is what we're about," said John Palvarez, a member of the club. "Marines take care of Marines. Brothers forever."
The Band of Brothers USMC Motorcycle Riding Club is an organization dedicated to supporting veterans, Marine Corps-related functions, charitable organizations and to keeping POW/MIA awareness alive. Its purpose is to foster a brotherhood dedicated to veterans and the sport of motorcycle riding.
Cpl. Susan Smith, who serves as Quantico Marine Corps base's Toys for Tots volunteer coordinator, helped to organize the event.
"The Band of Brothers come in and support the Marines who are in the Marine Corps today," she said. "It just exemplifies what the Marine Corps is all about."
Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Maj. Bill Hendricks and members of his Los Angeles Marine Corps Reserve Unit collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The following year, the Marine Corps followed Hendricks' lead and expanded the effort nationwide as the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Since the program's inception, Marines have collected and distributed more than 350 million toys.
Collection boxes are located at various locations throughout Quantico Marine Corps base.
"It's a great thing. It helps so many children out," said Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Broc, Toys for Tots coordinator for Northern Virginia.
The Toys for Tots warehouse in Aquia Towne Center isn't actually a warehouse at all. Instead, it is an empty storefront that is filled with stuffed animals, games, dolls, fire trucks - just about any toy that can be named. Volunteers and a group of Marines who are assigned to the site for the month can be found hard at work sorting toys and preparing them for distribution seven days a week.
"We have spent the whole year contacting civic organizations in the community to say, 'Hey, how about volunteering in the Toys for Tots warehouse?' " said Wilma Vaughn, community relations specialist for Quantico. "It goes beyond being a job. They love being here."
Broc said that all the toys will be distributed to impoverished children throughout Northern Virginia.
Last year, approximately 117,000 new, unwrapped toys were collected from dozens of local Toys for Tots collection sites, and 67,000 children received toys through Quantico's Toys for Tots distribution site alone.
"My goal, hopefully, this year, is to collect around 120,000 toys," he said.
Nationwide, Marines collected and distributed more than 19 million toys in 2005.
On Sunday, as Broc fielded calls on his cell phone, he gestured around the warehouse and at the toys that will brighten Christmas for thousands of children.
"There will not be a single toy in here by Dec. 22," he said. Broc is already looking for a space that can be used for a warehouse next year.
The Toys for Tots campaign in Northern Virginia is assisted by 450 sponsors, who collect new toys for the program, as well as 250 distributors, who screen the families who ask for assistance. More than 100 events also help to bring in toy donations to the program.
New toys can be dropped off at fire stations in Stafford and Prince William counties and the City of Fredericksburg. Bogey's Sports Bar & Grill in Fredericksburg is also a Toys for Tots drop-off and donation site. The grill is located in Central Park at 1380 Central Park Blvd., Suite 103.
Source: Stafford County Sun
AQUIA - Dozens of motorcycles converged on Aquia Towne Center in Stafford on Sunday as members of the Band of Brothers USMC Riding Club roared in to provide less fortunate children in Northern Virginia with a Christmas to remember.
Marines and other volunteers were on hand to greet about 20 members of the riding club as they pulled up to a Toys for Tots warehouse shortly before noon.
"This is what we're about," said John Palvarez, a member of the club. "Marines take care of Marines. Brothers forever."
The Band of Brothers USMC Motorcycle Riding Club is an organization dedicated to supporting veterans, Marine Corps-related functions, charitable organizations and to keeping POW/MIA awareness alive. Its purpose is to foster a brotherhood dedicated to veterans and the sport of motorcycle riding.
Cpl. Susan Smith, who serves as Quantico Marine Corps base's Toys for Tots volunteer coordinator, helped to organize the event.
"The Band of Brothers come in and support the Marines who are in the Marine Corps today," she said. "It just exemplifies what the Marine Corps is all about."
Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Maj. Bill Hendricks and members of his Los Angeles Marine Corps Reserve Unit collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The following year, the Marine Corps followed Hendricks' lead and expanded the effort nationwide as the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Since the program's inception, Marines have collected and distributed more than 350 million toys.
Collection boxes are located at various locations throughout Quantico Marine Corps base.
"It's a great thing. It helps so many children out," said Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Broc, Toys for Tots coordinator for Northern Virginia.
The Toys for Tots warehouse in Aquia Towne Center isn't actually a warehouse at all. Instead, it is an empty storefront that is filled with stuffed animals, games, dolls, fire trucks - just about any toy that can be named. Volunteers and a group of Marines who are assigned to the site for the month can be found hard at work sorting toys and preparing them for distribution seven days a week.
"We have spent the whole year contacting civic organizations in the community to say, 'Hey, how about volunteering in the Toys for Tots warehouse?' " said Wilma Vaughn, community relations specialist for Quantico. "It goes beyond being a job. They love being here."
Broc said that all the toys will be distributed to impoverished children throughout Northern Virginia.
Last year, approximately 117,000 new, unwrapped toys were collected from dozens of local Toys for Tots collection sites, and 67,000 children received toys through Quantico's Toys for Tots distribution site alone.
"My goal, hopefully, this year, is to collect around 120,000 toys," he said.
Nationwide, Marines collected and distributed more than 19 million toys in 2005.
On Sunday, as Broc fielded calls on his cell phone, he gestured around the warehouse and at the toys that will brighten Christmas for thousands of children.
"There will not be a single toy in here by Dec. 22," he said. Broc is already looking for a space that can be used for a warehouse next year.
The Toys for Tots campaign in Northern Virginia is assisted by 450 sponsors, who collect new toys for the program, as well as 250 distributors, who screen the families who ask for assistance. More than 100 events also help to bring in toy donations to the program.
New toys can be dropped off at fire stations in Stafford and Prince William counties and the City of Fredericksburg. Bogey's Sports Bar & Grill in Fredericksburg is also a Toys for Tots drop-off and donation site. The grill is located in Central Park at 1380 Central Park Blvd., Suite 103.
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