Arlington Community shows support for ‘Toys for Tots’

TULALIP — The Quil Ceda Village Walmart hosted its second annual “Toys for Tots” collection drive Dec. 10, as KOMO, KVI and KPLZ radio staff teamed up with the U.S. Marine Corps to solicit donations and fill their boxes and truck trailer with holiday presents for children in need from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

According to Quil Ceda Village Walmart Good Works Coordinator Mary Jane Hayes, not only did the collection booth outside the storefront yield more than $1,000 in cash donations by the middle of the day, but Walmart store employees conducted an impromptu bake sale in the personnel office that generated $400 on its own.

“We’ve already received 11 bikes, 10 of them from one man, with three more on the way,” Hayes said shortly before noon Dec. 10. “Even with the economy the way it is, we’ve received so much. One woman gave us an entire shopping cart full of stuff, and pulled out a pair of gloves. That was all she’d bought for herself. I’ve been close to tears this entire time.”

Marysville’s Patricia Rutten always tries to set aside something for “Toys for Tots,” and this year proved to be no exception. She’d just come from shopping for a great-grandchild, while young Nathan Lindholm, also of Marysville, was barely big enough to reach up to hand off his donation to the Marines. Lindholm picked out a toy that he thought a little boy like himself would enjoy.

Marine Cpl. Justin Hale was taking part in his fourth “Toys for Tots” collection drive, while Marine Gunnery Sgt. Shane Inman has been taking part in “Toys for Tots” since 1996.

“Walmart is a great venue for this,” Inman said. “There’s a lot of traffic here, and the radio broadcasts help get the word out to the public.”

“It’s a big difference from last year,” Hale said. “A lot of folks in the community have been willing to pitch in to make that difference.”

Contact Arlington Times Reporter Kirk Boxleitner at kboxleitner@marysvilleglobe.com or 360-659-1300 Ext. 5052.

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