BALLSTON SPA – During the upcoming holiday season Community Emergency Corps will be an official drop-off point for donations to the Toys for Tots program sponsored by the United States Marine Corps.
The Community Emergency Corps (CEC) has already started to receive donations and will be accepting toys at the station until Dec. 15. It is located at 78 Thompson Street in Ballston Spa. Items can be dropped off anytime, days or evenings.
For 2017, the CEC will again partner with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office to broaden the scope of support for the national Toys for Tots campaign. For over 45 years, it has assisted needy and deserving children all around the Capital Region. In last year’s campaign the program reached a goal of collecting over 120,000 toys and distributing them to deserving children.
The local Toys for Tots program has grown from about 40 toys donated the first year to well over 300 toys last season. New, unwrapped toys, games, books, puzzles, sport balls, dolls, snow toys, and anything for kids from infant to teens are all appreciated. Stuffed toys are the only exception.
If no one is in the building due to answering emergency calls, individuals are asked to return at another time with contributions. In addition, toys can be donated during the annual Santa Parade in Ballston Spa on Dec. 1, which starts at 6 p.m.
As a reminder, the toys collected are redistributed locally to children in need.
For more information, contact CEC Executive Director Ray Otten at 518-885-1478.