With a handful of volunteers, Toys for Tots collects toys for local kids with military precision and efficiency.
In this area, a Marine Corps League detachment #1190 New River Valley manages Toys for Tots collection in Floyd, Pulaski, Montgomery counties and the City of Radford with about 10 volunteers.
The Marine Corps has coordinated Toys for Tots since 1947 and local Marine Corps veteran and Toys for Tots volunteer, Hank Ross, oversees 31 boxes in Christiansburg alone.
“The organization is very efficient,” Ross said. “Nationally, 97 cents of every dollar goes to toys. The foundation operates so cheaply and efficiently.”
People have been contributing to the boxes since November.
“We’ve gotten less money, but more toys than we have had in the past,” Ross said. “Many local business have supported us: Five Below has contributed a great deal and First Security Storage contributed a storage space,” he said.