Back in the winter of 2005 after returning from a combat tour in Iraq in which we sustained heavy losses, 3rd Battalion 25th Marines, my infantry unit, asked some of us on active duty to volunteer for the Toys for Tots program through the end of the year. I had previously volunteered for some Toys for Tots events during my time in the Marines; a static display at a Cabela’s here, a Golf Club dinner event there, even a yearly house party where the guests insisted on imbibing the young Marines with festive beverages. Lots of fun. But little did I know just how much time and hard work went into making the Toys for Tots program a success!
First, the Marine Reserves and volunteers in the local area makes themselves available daily to take requests for collection boxes and for Marines to attend collection events. Boxes are then delivered personally by these Marines and volunteers all throughout the area, in our case the Las Vegas valley. At around 10-12 days before Christmas, the Marines and volunteers collect the heavy boxes and bags of toys and bring them back to the unit headquarters, usually in a very large area like the gymnasium. Now, with quite literally a mountain of toys, the REAL work begins!
Huge toy boxes are placed around the mountain of toys with labels like “BOYS AGES 3-6” or “GIRLS AGES 6-10” and little by little, over a period of a week, this mountain of new children’s toys grows smaller and smaller as the toys are painstakingly observed and separated into their appropriate age groups. As this process is being completed, community outreach groups, churches, and families arrive to collect the toys to distribute them to poor little boys and girls who otherwise weren’t able to experience the joy of opening presents on Christmas or whatever holiday they celebrate.
When Gene, Ryan and I started Noble Carpet Cleaners here in Vegas, we always wanted to give back to the community. Over the years, we’ve donated more than 15 whole house cleanings to Las Vegas veterans and volunteered for a variety of charities but taking part in Toys for Tots takes a special place in my heart as a Marine. Please help us fill our box and make this holiday season special for underprivileged local kids!
Ways to donate: If you’ve purchased a service, you can hand your toys over to your technician. If you use our rug drop off service, come on by our office and drop off your rug to be cleaned and a toy, too!
Of course, you can always come by the office and drop a toy in our box whether you use our services or not
Our office is located at: 7770 Duneville St. Suite 4 Las Vegas, NV 89139
Thank you and Semper Fi!
Jacob
