Toys for Tots Collections Will Continue at Connecticut River Valley Area Post Offices

REGIONAL - The American Postal Workers Union recently reversed a decision that would have removed Toys for Tots collection boxes at local post offices.

The Toys for Tots program is the U.S. Marine Corps' premier community action program involving the collection of new and unwrapped toys which are distributed as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community.

This year, post offices within the seven-town Pictorial Gazette territory that have collection boxes in their lobbies include Centerbrook at 4 Westbrook Road, Chester at 100 Main Street, Deep River at 225 Main St., Essex at 12 Main St. Suite 5, Hadlyme at 1 Ferry Road, Old Lyme at 12 Halls Road, Old Saybrook at 36 Main Street, South Lyme at 389 Shore Rd., and Westbrook at 1411 Boston Post Road.

Hours of operation and directions to post offices can be found at www.usps.com.

Having drop-off boxes at the post offices are important since the next closest drop-off locations for Connecticut River Valley residents, according to the Toys for Tots Web site, is New Haven to the west, Waterford to the east, and Berlin to the north.

However, the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce is collecting toys and games for Toys for Tots at All Pro Auto, Cherrystones, Christy Laurence Real Estate, Essex Savings, High Hopes, Subway, and Reynolds Garage.

Monetary donations for Toys for Tots can be made at all Toys "R" Us and Kids "R" Us stores as well as www.toysrus.com.

The program experienced the most extensive coverage last year when local campaigns were conducted in 558 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Toys for Tots coordinators in 2006 distributed 19.2 million toys to 7.6 million needy children.

In addition to donating toys, Toys for Tots is seeking volunteers to donate their time and service to the campaign, companies and businesses interested in allowing the Marines to place toy collection boxes at their place of business, empty warehouses for the Marines to use so they can store and sort toys, and volunteers willing to allow Marines use of their vehicles to collect toys throughout their communities.

Those interested in volunteering in any aspect can visit www.toysfortots.org.

There is information on the Web site for those who have or know children who are in need this holiday season and those who would like information about hosting an event or function or to request Toys for Tots promotional materials.