Marines make Columbus kids’ Christmas dreams come true

On Dec 19, 2021

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. James McDow, left, helps to pile toys in the arms of Prince McGill, 7, during the Toys for Tots distribution event at the Marion Franklin Community Center in Columbus Saturday.

Reagan Carr clutched a new stuffed giraffe as she walked around the thousands of toys that filled the Marion Franklin Recreation Center, which looked more like Santa’s workshop Saturday.

“Her mother is a single parent and she’s really having a hard time, so that’s why I brought her here,” family friend Claudette Waters said of bringing 2-year-old Reagan to the annual Marines Toys for Tots distribution event at the center. “This could help them have a nice Christmas.”

The South Side resident got in line at 8:45 a.m. and waited two hours to get in for Reagan to pick out her presents, which took less than five minutes. The line snaked out the center’s front door and stretched down the sidewalk to near the end of the parking lot by the pool.

People wait in line outside the Marion Franklin Community Center in the drizzling rain Saturday for the annual Toys for Tots distribution event in Columbus. More than 50,000 toys were donated to this year's effort, which was expected to serve about 3,000 children.

“I’m grateful for (Toys for Tots), and it’s been wonderful and I think they did a good job of doing what they do,” said Waters, 74.

Making sure all kids can get a toy for Christmas

For nearly 25 years, Toys for Tots has brought smiles to the faces of Greater Columbus children through the help of Marines of Lima Company, ABC 6/FOX, Rock City Church, Columbus ICE — short for Inspiring Children to Excellence — among other local partners. Toys for Tots has helped children nationwide have a merry Christmas since 1947.

“It’s such a joy to see the delight in the faces of the children to come in and pick out something that they want themselves to help make their holiday a little bit brighter,” said Maree Whitlow, a co-leader of Columbus ICE, a Groveport-based nonprofit group that helps children succeed by promoting health, education, recreation and team work.

More than 50,000 toys were donated to the local effort, including stuffed animals, board games, basketballs, bicycles, Star Wars toys, makeup kits, Nerf toys, dolls and Marvel superhero action figures. About 3,000 children in Greater Columbus were expected to get toys on Saturday, said Andrew Thomas, executive director of the local Toys for Tots.

“A lot of parents feel bad when they can’t give their kids something for Christmas, he said. “Sometimes they are just not financially able. You have to pay the bills, you have to put food on the table, sometimes a toy isn’t a necessity, so we want to take that burden off of them.”

And this year the need is even greater because of the various challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know that with the restraints of everything going on, some people are not financially able to provide this year,” he said.

Kids are often asked what they received for Christmas when they go back to school after the holiday, which can lead to bullying if they don’t get anything.

“We are trying to take that away from them as well,” Thomas said.

‘I have nothing under my tree right now for my kids’

If it weren’t for Toys for Tots, a lot of Columbus-area families would have a small Christmas, if one at all, he said.

“I believe that a lot of people would go with nothing underneath the tree or the bare minimum,” Thomas said. “We try to take that stress off of the parents’ shoulders.”

Yvonne Edgerton called Toys for Tots a “godsend.”

“To be honest, I have nothing under my tree right now for my kids, so to have something for them to even open up for next week, that is going to mean so much,” said Edgerton, 37, of the East Side, as she wiped tears from her eyes.

She got in line with her sister at about 10:45 a.m. in the drizzling rain so they could get gifts for their six children, ranging in ages from 2 to 14.

“Every parent out here is very thankful,” Edgerton said. “Every child that is out here is being blessed and they are very grateful even though some kids don’t have the sense of why this is happening.”

Families were escorted by a volunteer at the event to pick out a large and a small toy. Everyone also received a book and a puzzle, and each family got a board game. The toys are organized by age and gender at various tables.

“I really pray that every kid enjoys every gift,” Edgerton said.

Izabella Martinez, 14, picked out a mirror and two makeup boxes for herself Saturday morning.