Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The annual Toys For Tots drive is Saturday, returning to downtown Warsaw to the city hall parking lot on East Center Street after several years at Martin’s Super Market.
And after over 25 years of coordinating the event for Kosciusko County, David Morales is making this his last year.
“I appreciate my family’s support for their time. It’s been a family affair ever since I started doing this. I’m looking forward to spending time with the grandbaby,” Morales said.
He added that along with his family, he’s also had “amazing support” from friends, co-workers, businesses and community members each year who support the local campaign. “It allows us to ensure each child in need in our area is taken care of. Without that support, teamwork and compassion, none of it would be possible.”
Morales, a lieutenant and Warsaw site supervisor with Parkview Police Department, technical sergeant in the Air Force and former gunnery sergeant in the U.S. Marines, started his involvement with the Marines’ Toys For Tots program in 1988. He started coordinating Kosciusko County’s around 1991.
Morales said anyone interested in becoming the local coordinator may email him at kosciuskocountyt4t@gmail.com, or call Parkview Warsaw between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 574-372-0065 or his cell at 574-551-9895.
Saturday Toy Drive
Saturday’s toy drive begins at 7 a.m., with WNDU channel 16 news anchors Tricia Sloma and David Harter onsite until 10 a.m. Morales said he, along with volunteers and Marines, will keep collecting donations until 11 a.m.
There will be high school carolers, and the Kosciusko County Fireman’s Association will again deliver the donations they’ve collected en masse by fire trucks.
In 2016, the local Toys For Tots program collected over 5,500 toys and assisted over 260 families with over 2,900 kids, Morales said. In 2015, it helped about 3,160 children.
Nationally, according to the Toys For Tots newsletter, Marines and volunteers distributed 18 million toys to 7 million children in 2016. Local campaigns were conducted in 792 communities, covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
Assistance Sign-Up
Morales is asking families that sign up for assistance to do so with only one agency – Toys For Tots, Angel Tree, Combined Community Services, Salvation Army, Helping Hands, Shop with A Cop or any other assistance through a church or group – so every family in the county is taken care of this year.
Sign-up for Toys For Tots is 4 to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the old city hall building, 302 E. Market St., Warsaw. Parents must have physical custody of their children to sign them up, so documentation is required, including the parent’s photo ID and either the children’s birth certificates or Social Security card.
Grandparents can not sign up their grandchildren unless they have custody of them.
Toy Collection
Box Sites
The toy drive will go until Dec. 15, with the gifts delivered Dec. 16.
Donations should be new, unwrapped toys for children and youth up to age 18.
There are about 60 Toys For Tots drop-off box locations this year.
In the Warsaw area, sites include Martin’s, Menards, Parkview Hospital, Walmart, Big R, Reneker’s Sports Shop, Zoyo’s, Dental Solutions, both Owen’s locations, CVS, Walgreen’s, Monteith Tire, all Dollar General stores, Family Video, Best Deal Auto, First Federal Savings Bank, Beacon Credit Union, Warsaw City Hall, Warsaw Police Department, Warsaw Community High School, WRSW and Willie radio station, The Village at Winona, Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Old National Bank, Hamilton Realty office, Auto Credit USA, Gamestop, Express Employment Professionals office, Teachers Credit Union banks and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.
Trinkets For Teens at Warsaw Community High School is helping collect gifts for teens.
Financial donations can be dropped off to Morales at Parkview Hospital in Warsaw or through the Toys For Tots website.
Other drop-off locations in Kosciusko County are CVS in Syracuse; Dollar General stores in Syracuse, Milford, Mentone, North Webster and Pierceton; Lakeside Fitness in Syracuse; and Tippy Creek Winery, Leesburg.
Special Events
Several events will are planned over the next few weeks to support Toys For Tots.
From 6 to 9 p.m. today, there will be a Christmas Celebration at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. There will be light appetizers and a cash bar. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for a needy child.
The first annual Toys For Tots Run is Saturday, starting at Warsaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 2771 N. Detroit St., Warsaw, and ending at Tippy Creek Winery, 5920 N. CR 200E, Leesburg. Registration is under the winery’s Facebook page, and all Jeeps and trucks are welcome. Registration also opens at 9 a.m. at Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, with the run leaving at 11:30 a.m. for the winery. There will be live music and food. Each registered vehicle is asked to bring a minimum of one toy to donate at registration, and a portion of all ticket sales will be donated to Toys For Tots. For more information, contact the winery at info@tippycreekwinery or call 574-453-9003.
Gospel singer Susie McEntire, sister of country music legend Reba McEntire, returns to Lakeview Middle School at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 for the annual Christmas Concert to benefit Toys For Tots. Doors open at 6 p.m., with toy and monetary donations accepted at the door.
Willie 103 is hosting its annual drive Sunday through Dec. 8. The live radio remote will be at Big R Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, then at Walmart Wednesday through Dec. 8. Times are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Grace College is hosting a trivia night for students Dec. 8.
Trash Bags, Volunteers Sought
Volunteers are needed to deliver and load the toys beginning at 8 a.m. Dec. 16, Morales said.
Morales also is looking for donations of 33-gallon trash bags for the gifts to be bagged and delivered in.
