Toys for Tots serving more kids than ever

The Flathead Valley Marine Corps Toys for Tots program had another successful campaign this year and will serve more families than ever.

This year the program, which provides toys, books and other gifts for less fortunate families will help 2,430 children from 920 families,.

“It’s the most we’ve ever had,” said coordinator Kelly King of Columbia Falls. 

On Saturday morning about 80 volunteers, including all the Flathead Valley’s 4H groups and several Boy Scouts, turned out to unload trailers full of brand new, unwrapped toys for the children, which were stored at the National Guard Armory in Kalispell.

Each child gets a few toys plus books and other gifts, King noted. This is King’s fourth year running the program for the U.S. Marine Corps. Toys for Tots was founded in 1991 at the behest of the Marines and is a 501 (c) 3 corporation.