NC Toy Drive event, donations collection for vandalized Toys for Tots warehouse

Marine Corps vets in Sanford, North Carolina are hoping to replace damaged and stolen toys for less fortunate children this Christmas, after a storage room in Lee County was ransacked, with an event planned for this Sunday.

The “Toys for Tots Ride” on December 11^th will begin about 11 am, when organizers will meet up at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Elm Street.

The group Bikers 4 America, which is made up of members who “support the American way of life,” wanted to get involved after hearing what happened.

Their ride will stretch along a route through town– about 2 miles–to help raise awareness for the local event and for Toys for Tots in general. It will take the bikers approximately 30 minutes to go from the Lee County Sheriff’s office to the VFW Post in Sanford – a city that lies between Raleigh and Ft Bragg.

Every year, the US Marine Corps Reserve organizes events around the country to help bring new toys to kids who are less fortunate.  In Sanford, the Marine Corps League had been storing the Christmas gifts at a warehouse on Wicker Street—the same place they’ve used for eight years.

“More than $3,000 of estimated damage was done to the collection of sports balls, kids’ books, children’s toys and more…,” The Sanford Herald reported. Since the incident occurred in late October, organizers have been working to clean the room and to try and save anything they could.

Last week, the local area organizer for Toys for Tots told The Sanford Herald: “I don’t remember any damage when we were taking stuff out there…I do know that somebody just took it upon themselves. It’s not like I had unmarked toys just laying in a corner. Somebody just decided to go through it.”

Craig Armstrong, the Commander at VFW Post 5631 told USMC Life, “We hope [the event] brings more awareness for Toys for Tots and for the Sanford Detachment of the Marine Corps League.”

“This put us behind the eight ball…the goal is to bring in what we lost,” Armstrong added.

To read more about how you can help, please visit the links below:

• Sanford Toys for Tots Website
• Toys for Tots Ride Event

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