U.S. Marine Corps compiling Toys for Tots starting today, Tuesday, Nov. 24

Katie Kuba
November 24, 2020

BUCKHANNON – Be on the lookout for Toys for Tots boxes around town, and if you are able to, help fill them with new, unwrapped toys for kids in need.

Larry Brown, retired from the U.S. Marine Corps and a member of VFW Post 3663, said this year he was heading up the local Toys for Tots effort.

Brown appeared at Buckhannon City Council’s Thursday, Nov. 19 meeting to request council’s permission to place boxes meant to collect new, unwrapped toys for kids throughout town in public locations as part of the Toys for Tots operation.

“They have this year handed me Toys for Tots, and I’ve helped with Toys for Tots before for four or five years, but to be in charge, that’s a different ballgame,” Brown said. “I would like to ask the city for permission to put out boxes in the town. I’ll be asking larger businesses such as banks for donations, but I plan to put the boxes out Tuesday (Nov. 24), and they will be picked up Dec. 15.”

Anyone who wishes to request a toy online or make a local donation online should visit the Elkins, West Virginia U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots headquarters here. The Elkins branch serves children in Upshur Randolph, Tucker, Barbour, Lewis counties, as well as areas in Pendleton, Harrison, Greenbrier, Webster counties.

Brown said Toys for Tots will make deliveries of unwrapped toys Dec. 19-20.

Council approved the request.

According to the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots’ website, the mission of the program is to collect and distribute new unwrapped toys to less fortunate children at Christmas.

“The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America’s less fortunate children,” the website says.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was officially chartered at the request of the Marine Corps in 1991.

Before adjourning, council also:

Approved on second reading Ordinance 447 an updated parking ordinance, which pertains mainly to changing the enforcement of the two-hour free parking policy; a public hearing before the ordinance’s third and final reading will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 immediately prior to the first council meeting in December.

Approved on second reading Ordinance 448, which authorizes the City of Buckhannon Building Commission to (1) acquire the property at 395 Mud Lick Road for a new city Street and Parks Department, (2) lease the property to the City of Buckhannon’s general fund, (3) the building commission to sell and issue bonds in an amount of up to $1.6 million to finance the property and (5) execute the agreement and lease.

In relation to Ordinance 448, council also unanimously approved financing the purchase of the Mud Lick property by accepting a quote on a 15-year loan for $1.6 million at a fixed rate of 2.195 percent. City finance and administrative director Amberle Jenkins said she had sent out Requests for Quotations to 13 banks and five responded. First Community Bank’s offer was the best, followed closely by Community Bank.