Like babes in toy land, volunteers with the Perry Toys for Tots program were busily bagging up bundles of comfort and joy Monday for our local little ones.
John and Linda Andorf of Perry are the longtime local organizers of the Toys for Tots program, partnering each year with the U.S. Marine Corps to bring toys and games to needy children.
The Andorfs were assisted by Lisa Battani, Heather Hoyme, Betty Hunt, Bob Hunt, Mary Kautzky and Steve Kautzky.
The Perry Elks Lodge served as the staging place for bagging the toys, which will be distributed Thursday and Friday. About 250 children from some 110 families will receive toys through this year’s program, Linda Andorf said.
“The Perry community was extremely generous again this year,” John Andorf said. He noted several local businesses and individuals who gave large donations and said their generosity is greatly appreciated.
Toys for Tots provides new toys for local children, from infants to 14-year-olds. While toys please the younger children, monetary donations were also accepted in order to purchase gift items for older children.
Toys for Tots has been in operation since 1947, when the wife of a U.S. Marine wanted to give a homemade doll to charity. Major William Hendricks could not find a charity that gave Christmas gifts to needy children, so he started his own charity. Thus began the national effort and the birth of Toys for Tots.
