Posted by: anonymous on 01/27/2009 05:58 PM
Updated by: anonymous on 01/27/2009 05:58 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM 2008 Toys For Tots Sets A Record
2008 Toys For Tots After Action Report (AAR)
Thank you good citizens of Winterville for helping the Athens area Marines have a super successful Toys For Tots Drive this year in spite of our nation's economic stagnation. This year reminded your police department chaplain that things always look darkest before the dawn.
To see what I mean click on "Read More."
The 2008 "Toys For Tots" Campaign has come and gone around here and with a great deal of help from our friends, we Marines have met the challenge once again.
This years goal of 33,000 toys for our 16 county area of responsibility here in Northeast Georgia seemed far out of reach when just five days before we were due to close out collection and distribution center located in Clarke County we had just reached a total of 16,000 toys. But, with the help of the Winterville's community and with the renewed support of local radio and TV stations and personalities, and the efforts of our collection staff of two very dedicated Marines and an extension of four additional days that overlapped an additional weekend, our Athens site collected and out processed nearly 30,000 additional toys by the time our doors were closed. This resulted in a record 45,000 toys collected and distributed during our 2008 campaign.
M/Sgt Tony Rendon USMC worked many long hours including weekends coordinating this campaign and collecting toys and deserves a hearty "Well Done, Marine!" from a good many folks who experienced a Merry Christmas because of his efforts. Our Police Department Chaplain, retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ray Fairman USMC began placing boxes at the more distant collection sites on November second and finally picked up the last of the toy collections on Jan 4th at about 2000. He logged over 2886 miles on his 2008 Chevrolet HHR while personally bringing in over 9485 toys and contributions exceeding $3000.00 from the 15 Northeast Georgia Counties assigned. "Gunner" Fairman is also known as "Colonel Fairman" around law enforcement circles and has served as the Chaplain for the Winterville Police Department for the last 6 years.
Mayor Jim Mercer also made sure that Sgt Scott Simpson and Officer Al Figueroa delivered gifts for the State Hospital in Augusta as part of the Mayor's Motorcade again this year showing our community's support once again.
In closing I want to thank everyone who participated in both this years Toys For Tots and Mayor's Motorcade campaigns. 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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