Freight carriers and independent truck drivers across the country are again doing their part to ensure underprivileged children receive gifts this Christmas. Local and regional Truckers for Tots campaigns are raising money and gathering gifts that will largely be donated to the Marine Toys For Tots Foundation and distributed through Toys For Tots organizations.
“Our organization wants to give back. So, looking at that, we asked our team what’s important, what do they want to do for the community? And every child having a toy under the tree, that’s something that’s kind of special to all of us, so let’s do that and let’s give back,” Mid-State Truck Service’s Tom Vandehey reportedly said.
Mid-State Truck Service, based in Wisconsin, enters its 13th consecutive year of supporting Toy for Tots through the Truckers for Tots affiliate. The truck service company recently raised more than $55,000 in cash donations, exceeding its 2020 threshold. After accumulating the funds, Mid-State reportedly sent employees and community members on a local shopping spree. Carts were filled with presents, loaded onto a tractor-trailer, and hauled to a local Toys for Tots distribution center.
“Truckers for Tots shopping trip #5 was a great success! The Mid-State team stopped by the Eau Claire Fleet Farm to purchase and donate thousands of dollars worth of toys to local charities,” Mid-State reportedly stated on social media. “Today marks the end of our 13th year of Truckers for Tots. We are so humbled and honored to serve such amazing communities that rally around those in need.”
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, distributing toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks, and the good works continue. A Marine Toys for Tots Toy Distribution in DeKalb County, Alabama, anticipates working with area truck drivers to supplement Santa’s deliveries.
“We expect to again have donated use of a tractor-trailer from Little River Transportation in Fort Payne, and Rocking E Trucking in Rainsville,” coordinator LaRue Hardinger reportedly said.
The outfit anticipates hundreds of bicycles will be transported thanks to the donated use of commercial motor vehicles. The gift distribution before Christmas reportedly caps-off months of coordinated efforts between the Marine-founded organization and community members.
“It is the generosity and coming together of people, groups, that makes Marine Toys for Tots possible in DeKalb County. For nine years, volunteers of all ages have come together with a single goal: to get new toys in the hands of local children in need and bring them the joy of Christmas,” Hardinger reportedly said. Our best hope is to continue to cultivate the trust and goodwill of this community, who have made it possible for our Marines to provide 44,691 toys to 7,422 children in the past nine years.”
Since 1947, Toys of Tots and affiliates have reportedly gathered and distributed more than 604 million gifts to more than 272 million children. Truckers have been a central part of transporting Christmas gifts each year, and their good works continue.
Source: truckersfortots.com, toysfortots.com
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