Leathernecks continue Christmas toy drive
ROGERSVILLE — For roughly three decades, the members of the Tri-County Leathernecks Association in Greene County have held its annual Christmas toy drive, in which they collect and distribute toys for area children during the holiday season.
The toy drive has been a major success for many years, enabling the association to make Christmas a little nicer for hundreds of local families. And this initiative will return once again this holiday season.
Since the association formed in the early 1980s, the members have worked together each year to collect toys and monetary donations for the program. The Leathernecks have worked with many local organizations, churches and individuals in collecting and distributing a wide variety of toys to needy children throughout the county.
The Leathernecks association is mostly comprised of veterans who served with the U.S. Marine Corps. John “Buzz” Walters, association commandant and former Marine, said the organization has always been committed to helping the community.
However, despite the generosity of those who have supported the Christmas program through countless donations of time, toys and money, members of the association announced in 2008 that due to dwindling membership and other factors the Leathernecks were considering ending the toy drive, or at least putting it on hold.
Following that announcement, which was made prior to the start of the 2008 toy drive, Walters said the response from community members – who wanted to do whatever they could help keep the toy drive thriving – was overwhelming.
“A lot of people contacted us about it after that announcement came out, and they said they didn’t want to see the program end,” Walters said. “They wanted to know what could be done to help. And boy, they definitely gave us a lot of help.”
Walters said the community opened their hearts for the cause, and through their donations they helped make the 2008 toy drive a huge success. That success continued in 2009, 2010, 2011 and again last year, as Walters said approximately 650 children received toys through the program at the various distribution sites.
It is because of the dedication from the numerous organizations and individuals that the toy program will return again this year, he said. The collection of new toys and monetary donations for the 2013 drive has already begun.
Walters said the toy collection program has been successful over the years because of the support received by the community at large.
“The Leathernecks have appreciated all the help that we’ve received through the years,” he said. “We’re hanging in there, and we’re continuing because of the people…People like Shirley and Roy Negley, who donate toys and help with distribution. We couldn’t do it without them, and without the many others like them.”
Walters also recognized the efforts of Tom and Jennie Hollowood, who have donated hundreds of new bicycles, purchased toys and transported the items to the distribution sites in years past.
He also thanked those who have assisted with the program over the years, including Joyce Coss, Don King, John Higgins, Betty Raineri, Bob Bosco, Lee Main, Garry and Cindy Brewer, Rev. Bob and Virginia Peters, Paul Messich, Steve Yorty, retired Greene County Judge H. Terry Grimes, the Popielarcheck family, Bill Brown, Bob Henderson, Skip Black, Frank Smith, Bruce Thompson, Brandy Carter and Bill Winters and students at Waynesburg Central High School.
He also acknowledged association founders Jim Caputo and Dick Morgan as well as his fellow Leathernecks for their involvement in the toy drives over the years, including Sonny Alexander, Lonnie Belford, Dick Herrod, Bill Jamison, Mae Richardson, Dick Saxby, Jim Shriver, Bob Varesko, Max Devecka, Jim Ryan, Ivan Modrick and Murray Williams.
Also recognized were various organizations and businesses, including: Waynesburg Masons, Community Bank, Dollar General, Basic Energy, Consol Energy Blacksville Kuhntown Portal, Big Lots, CSG, the 20th Century Club, Claughton Chapel, Seldom Seen Farm, Waynesburg Lions Club, Low Hill Lions Club, United Way and the Blue Knights.
Walters also expressed gratitude to Alice Caputo, who for many years opened her restaurant, Caputo’s in Dry Tavern, for the Leathernecks to hold meetings and special events; and to Waynesburg Moose Lodge No. 461, which holds an annual dinner/dance fundraiser.
Speaking of the annual dinner/dance, this year’s event was held at the Moose lodge on Nov. 2. The event included dinner, an auction, giveaways and dancing. Attendees were also asked to bring a new toy to the event. All proceeds from the event will go the toy program.
The event has been very successful for the drive in years past; in fact, this year’s dinner/dance raised approximately $1,500, Walters said.
Walters also recognized the efforts of Ralph and Mike Palesco and the Washington County Marine Corp League, which partnered with the Leathernecks the past two years and is doing so again in 2013. Ralph Palesco passed away within the past year and son Mike Palesco has “picked up where his father left off,” Walters said.
Finally, he also recognized the Greene County Messenger for its coverage of the toy program each year.
For this year’s toy drive, the Leathernecks will collect toys until Friday, Dec. 20 and the toys will be distributed at the following locations on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.:
n The Greene County Fairgrounds. (Call Murray Williams at 724-627-8441 for more information.)
n Carmichaels American Legion. (Call Theresa Walters at 724-966-2009 for more information.)
n St. Thomas Church in Clarksville. (Call Dick Saxby at 724-377-2450 for more information.)
n Bobtown Civic Club. This is a change from last year, from the Greensboro Fire Hall. (Call Toni Cline at 724-943-2108 or Chuck Zalar at 724-943-4896 for more information.)
The toys will be distributed to parents of children up to 12 years old. Parents need to bring income identification as well as identification showing the child’s social security number for each child that they want to pick up toys for.
Walters said that any new toys that are left over from the 2013 toy drive will be donated to the Salvation Army in Waynesburg.
Walters said there is still time for people to donate toys or monetary contributions for the program. Anyone wanting to donate toys or make monetary donations should call Walters at 724-499-5332 for more information.
People can also drop off toys by making arrangements with Walters. Leathernecks also has drop-off boxes available at various locations throughout the county, including the Community Bank branches, Wal-Mart, Giant Eagle, Dollar General, Big Lots, Walgreens, the Waynesburg VFW, as well as at other sites in Carmichaels, Clarksville, Greensboro and Waynesburg.
With the 2013 toy drive underway, Walters is thankful for the community support that has helped keep the drive alive for nearly three decades.
“The Tri-County Leathernecks will do whatever we can to keep this great program going,” he said. “But we can’t do it alone. We hope the community continues to support the toy drive, so that we can continue providing this service for many years to come.”
For more information about the annual toy drive, call Walters at 724-499-5332 or 724-499-5348.