Michael Holtzman Herald News Staff Reporter @MDHoltzman

Sunday

Dec 2, 2018 at 1:15 PM


Held at Swansea Mall Walmart Dec. 7-9

SWANSEA — The “Toys for Tots, Stuff a Bus” campaign, driven by the Marine Corps League of Somerset, is revving up.

For the first time the weekend drive before the holidays will be held at the Walmart at the Swansea Mall, an enthusiastic Marine Corps League Commandant Bruce Aldrich said.

This year’s annual toy drive will be held Friday through Sunday, Dec. 7-9, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Walmart may be accessed off Route 6 from Maple Avenue or behind the mall from Swansea Mall Drive (Route 118).

Citizens in Greater Fall River are asked to bring unwrapped toys for children of all ages. The Marine Corp League, student volunteers and others from EasCare Ambulance Service will collect the toy donations, put them in large boxes and hope to fill the Marine Corps League bus, Aldrich said.

Citizens for Citizens Inc., the Fall River non-profit agency, collects the toys from the Marine Corps League and works with the Department of Children and Families to distribute the toys to children of families in need throughout Greater Fall River.

It’s the 11th consecutive year the toy drive is being held since the post was established in 2007 as officially the LCpl John J. VanGyzen Detachment 1285, Marine Corps League, Somerset.

Van Gyzen IV of Dighton was killed in Iraq on July 5, 2004 at age 21.

The league collected more than 6,000 toys, Aldrich said.

He noted the drives were held most years at the Swansea Mall at the Toys ‘r Us store, which also donated toys and many related contributions to the holiday drive for years.

After the noted toy chain closed, Aldrich said Walmart has stepped up as a supporting sponsor.

Cash donations are also accepted, which are used to buy toys — likely at Walmart — in the subsequent year, used usually to buy toys and sporting items for older children, he said. A local Girl Scout troop is also joining forces with the Marine Corps League “stuff the bus” drive.

Email Michael Holtzman at mholtzman@heraldnews.com or call him at 508-676-2573.