Getting your player ready...
U.S. Marine Sgt. Phil Sena, from Temecula, Calif., has completed two combat tours in Afghanistan; but this week the Corps has him doing something entirely different — playing Santa Claus to thousands of Denver kids who see all of the excitement of Christmas on TV, but who come from families without the resources to make the magic happen.
“I didn’t know we ever did this,” Sena recalled, after he and two other NCOs from the 453rd Combat Logistics Battalion at Buckley AFB joined Ryland Homes’ staff for a holiday lunch, then loaded 867 toys from the builder into a 7-ton transport headed for Toys for Tots. Those toys will join some 90,000 items that Marines reservists have gathered for Toys of Tots here in Denver alone this year – many of them already handed out to families over the past few weeks, or distributed to dozens of non-profits and agencies that help out. U.S. Marines have been creating that magic for 68 years, beginning with a Toys-for-Tots campaign during the first Christmas after World War II – formally adopted as the Corps’ holiday tradition in 1948. During early years, Marines gathered used toys along with new ones, but in the 1970s switched exclusively to new toys, as the Corps gave a larger defense roll to the Reserves. Now Toys for Tots is run by the Toys for Tots Foundation headquartered near the Corps’ training base at Quantico, with close USMC support. Sgt. Sena, Denver organizer of Toys for Tots, says that internet support allows the Marines to be very targeted in their campaign now — putting together names of kids and their ages, supplied by agencies, with toys specifically chosen for them. Much of that has already happened this Christmas – although Toys for Tots could still match up a new toy from you with a kid that will really appreciate it, if you get your donation to Toys for Tots’ warehouse at 3840 S. Wadsworth, just south of U.S. 285 between Jefferson and Mansfield, by the end of today. That’ll barely allow time for Marines to sort the toys, weed out any used ones, and get them to agencies still in need before Santa flies Wednesday night. “It will be cutting it close,” Sena said. “It’s always a thrill for us to take part in this campaign,” said Ryland Colorado Division President Dan Nickless, in thanking Ryland’s employees, vendors, homeowners, buyers and Realtors who pitched in toys and support. “It’s a special honor to work with U.S. Marines, who deserve such thanks for all they do for this country.” In addition to toys gathered locally, Ryland nationally contributed $25,000 to Toys for Tots this year. Ryland, with homes in Arvada, Aurora, Broomfield, Castle Rock, Golden, Johnstown, Lafayette, Longmont, Fort Collins and Windsor, is marking its third year as a Toys-for-Tots sponsor. (Find their Front Range communities and floor plans at Ryland.com.) Meanwhile, Toys for Tots has delivered some 469 million toys down 216 million chimneys over its history. If you missed giving a toy this year, dollar contributions keep its operation rolling, at very low overhead costs (some 97% of donations go directly to gifts, nothing to salaries). Find ways to get involved at ToysForTots.org; and follow the ‘Donate’ link to the county campaign closest to you.DenverPostHomes.com
