The Thomas A. Payne Marine Corps League, Fort Smith, and the Cpl. Joshua J. Ware Marine Corps League, Sallisaw, gave out 14,251 toys, 2,080 books and 23,700 stocking stuffers to 3,133 children in Sebastian, Crawford, Sequoyah, Adair, Cherokee and LeFlore counties last year.

This year, the Toys for Tots holiday kick-off will begin both nationally and locally on Oct. 1, 2023.

Jackie C. Plank, Adjutant/ Paymaster of the Cpl. Joshua J. Ware Marine Corps League, said Toys for Tots is an outreach of the Marine Corps Reserve and is assisted by local Marine Corps Leagues with special training for this program.

“Toys for Tots is not just a holiday program anymore, it’s outreach has expanded to support children and families in need throughout the year,” Plank said.

Plank said Toys for Tots provides emotional support and assistance to economically disadvantaged children through their year-round programs.

Some of those programs include:

• Foster Care Initiative is a program to give foster care children not only something tangible to take with them as they move, but also some tools and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

• The Toys for Tots Native American Program started in 1980, and has grown to benefit over 220,000 Native American children annually, providing toys and books to participating Reservations.

• The Youth Ambassador Program spotlights “children helping children,” those that have gone above and beyond in their communities to help children in need, while also engaging community members on behalf of Toys for Tots.

• The Toys for Tots Literacy Program is to promote literacy. Literacy forms the foundation of communication and impacts many areas of a child’s life, such as learning, interacting with others, and their ability to work later in life. It helps deliver age appropriate books to children in need to help break the cycle of poverty.

Plank said anyone wishing to help make a child’s Christmas brighter this year can do so by leaving toys or monetary donations. She said toy boxes and donation jars will be set out at Tractor Supply in Sallisaw, Dollar General stores throughout Sequoyah County, and VFW Posts at both Muldrow and Sallisaw (after Oct. 1). “Also, the Cpl. Joshua J. Ware MCL #1403 will have a booth at Old Settler’s Day at Muldrow on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023,” Plank said.

“We will have a toy box and donation jar, and will be selling raffle tickets for a 243-piece Craftsman fully-loaded toolbox to be given away that day, with proceeds to help the Toys for Tots in our area for this year.”

For more info, contact Plank at 479-883-5661.