Toys for Tots 2015 photos by Paul Waterstradt
Subject: Toys for Tots In addition to the events listed in this press release, this is also an important week for many of our agencies. Many of them close out their requests for assistance this week. We are again scheduled to count and sort toys at the Coast Guard Air Station Sunday at 10 am. If you are interested in covering that, please let me know in advance. For security reasons we need to get names to the Coast Guard by Wednesday to gain access to the base. It should be quite visual with a lot of volunteers and thousands of toys (or so we hope.) Let me know if you have questions. Thanks, Mike Kent 231-932-6220
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2015 Contact: Mike Kent (231) 932-6220 or MKent@BillMarsh.com Toys for Tots Kicks Off At Great Wolf Lodge Saturday Traverse City, Mich. The Great Wolf Lodge will take in a special guest Saturday to usher in the start of the Toys for Tots campaign in Northwest Michigan. Santa will forsake his usual reindeer and catch a ride on a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to land at the lodge and take part in a campaign kick-off event that is free and open to the public. The Toys for Tots Kick Off Event will start at noon and run until 2 p.m. During that time Santa will visit with children, refreshments will be served, Christmas carols sung, tours of the Coast Guard helicopter, and there will be children s activities. The event is free, but those who bring toy donations can enter to win a variety of door prizes. Weather permitting, Santa is expected to arrive in the helicopter at shortly after noon. Organizers say they expect to need over 25,000 toys again this year in the five-county Toys for Tots of Northwest Michigan region. The group distributes toys through 14 human service agencies. It s a lot of toys we need donated in a short period of time, says Toys for Tots director Maggie Kent. We end up putting a lot of smiles on children at Christmas, but we can t do it unless the community responds. The Salvation Army and the Father Fred Foundation are the two biggest agencies that distribute the toys, but a complete list of agencies is found at www.toysfortots.org. More than 100 donation boxes have been distributed through the five-county region including Bill Marsh Auto, Fox Motors and Toys R Us. Many of the toy drop-off locations are identified by bright red and white yard signs. Again this year Fox Motors has teamed up with Great Wolf Lodge and will offer free water park passes with toy donations. Local corporate sponsors include Meijer, Great Wolf Lodge, Bill Marsh Auto, Fox Motors, Celtic Shuttle and Tours, Tyson Foods, BATA, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Fast Signs, Traverse City Record-Eagle, TV 7&4, ABC 29&8, radio stations WKLT and The Fox FM. Toys for Tots began 68 years ago by the Marine Corps Reserves. More information is available by calling (231) 933-0344 or at www.toysfortots.org. ###
Yagle Brothers Detachment 165 P. O. Box 426 Traverse City, MI 49685-0426 TOYS FOR TOTS Kick off will be this Saturday, November 21 at noon at the Great Wolf Lodge. Santa will be flown in by Coast Guard helicopter so, bring the kids and enjoy the beginning of the Christmas season. Wear something Marine if you come. Shop with a hero day is December 4 th Fox Motors wrap up day community party is 12/12 at noon Toy sort at the Coast Guard Station is 11/29, 12/6 and 12/13 If you plan to attend, your name must be submitted by Tuesday prior to the sort in order for you to access the Coast Guard Station. Pick up days will be 11/28, 12/5 and 12/11. If a pick up point is a business that is closed on Saturday and/or closes early on Friday, adjust pick ups accordingly. Let me know if there are any questions. After the kickoff on November 21 st, a list of pick up points will be available. I would like to expand our pickups so that our group covers the city. As usual, we could use more help so, if you know of someone who might be available let me know. Thanks for your help in making this another successful event. Contact either myself or Robert Scott for more information or to volunteer. Semper Fi,
Subject: TFT Help We don t always do a great job communicating with our sponsors to direct them on where to go for help this Christmas season. Many of you may have employees, their families or their friends that, rather than donating toys, may actually need help this year. Attached is a link that lists the Agencies we work with. Can you make sure your employees, coworkers and friends are aware of where to go for help. It s always best to sign up with them early. Thanks, Mike & Maggie Kent http://traverse-city-mi.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/request-toys.aspx