Posted by: Ray on 01/06/2008 10:39 PM
Updated by: Ray on 01/06/2008 10:39 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
2007 Toys For Tots Wrap Up
Thank you citizens of Winterville for helping the Marines have a successful Toys For Tots Drive again this year. This year it reminded your police department chaplain that things always look darkest before the dawn. To see what I mean click on "Read More."
Well another "Toys For Tots" Campaign has come and gone around here and with a little help from our friends, we Marines have met the challenge once again.
This years goal of 25,000 toys for our 16 county area of responsibility here in Northeast Georgia seemed out of reach just six days before we were due to close out collection and distribution centers (One in Hall County and one in Clarke County) because we had just reached a total of 9,000 toys. But, with the help of Winterville's Mayor, who spoke to a Banner Herald reporter, an article was published that sent a renewed spirit of giving through out the local area. Wes Sargenson of WXIA-TV Atlanta also ran one of his "Wes side storis" on our shortages and the collection boxes seemed to fill up overnight. With the continued support of local radio stations and personalities, and the efforts of our collection staff of five people (two in Hall County and Three for the remaining 15 counties), the Hall county site collected and distributed between 6,000 and 7,000 toys while the Athens site collected and out processed nearly 20,000 toys by the time our doors were closed.
M/Sgt John Frost worked many long hours including weekends coordinating this campaign and deserves a hearty "Well Done, Marine!" from a good many folks who will experience a Merry Christmas because of his efforts. MGy/Sgt Kelly Roberts also responded smartly to the call, assisting M/Sgt Frost and manning the collection van on many occasions. Retired CWO4 Ray Fairman began placing boxes at the more distant collection sites on November second and finally picked up the last of the toy collections on Dec 24th at about 2000. He logged over 2886 miles on his 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 while personally bringing in over 4485 toys from the 15 Northeast Georgia Counties assigned. "Gunner Fairman is also known as Colonel Fairman and serves as the Chaplain for the Winterville Police Department, where he also assigned by Police Chief Mike Vizzini to assist Winterville Mayor Jim Mercer with the Mayor's Motorcade which collected gifts for the patients at Eastern Regional State Hospital in Augusta. Chaplain Fairman and Mayor Mercer delivered those gifts on December 12th. Additionally Ray serves as the Adjutant for the Joseph Schmittou Detachment #1083 of the Marine Corps League which meets at the AMVETS Post #10 on Winterville Road at 1900 on the 4th Thursday of each month.
In closing I want to thank everyone who participated in this years campaign. The Volunteers, Those who were "volunteered" and those who donated to this years campaign. If it weren't for all of you, there would be many a child who would not have experienced the joy of Christmas Morning.
God put our eyes in the front of our heads so we could focus on the future and leave the past behind so my wish for the new year is that all of you continue to experience the joy imparted to others by placing their needs above your own. I learned long ago that you can't out give God, even on a battle scarred trail.
Until next year, God bless you all and thank you once again.
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