Dressed Marine Sergeant Chuck D. Norris III carries out a bag of gifts from the Toys for Tots distribution center in Spruce Pine while Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin follows him clad as Santa Claus.
A large fundraising effort culminated earlier this month when 353 Mitchell County children experienced a Merry Christmas and received gifts through the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.
Toys for Tots is organized by Mitchell County’s own Mark Thomas.
The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys in October, November and December of each year.
Those gifts are then distributed as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community.
Toys for Tots is fueled by donations and volunteer hours.
“We couldn’t do this without the help we get,” Thomas said. “Not just donations of toys and money, but from a lot of volunteers, as well. Every year, the program gets bigger and every year, we have people step up, take on more responsibility and do whatever they can to make this happen.”
Donations are accepted each year from across the county. Both individuals and businesses help make the program possible through their contributions.
The program operated with more than $15,000 in donations this year from area businesses and individuals, including a $6,000 contribution from BRP.
Donations are stored on the ground floor of the Cross Street Commerce Center. The multitude of items sprawls across the vast, open space.
This year, 70 volunteers loaded bags full of gifts onto vehicles during December distribution days. Gifts were mass distributed on Dec. 10 after a smaller distribution day earlier in the month.
Thomas specifically thanked Christy Bryant for her work with the program. She specializes in the technological side of the operation.
“She does everything,” he said. “She just puts it all together.”
The primary goal of Toys for Tots is delivering, via Christmas gifts, a message of hope to area children that will help them become productive, patriotic citizens.
Marines Sergeant Chuck D. Norris III and 83-year-old Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Charles Wilmoth also showed up in full uniform on Dec. 10 to load gifts. The pair were joined by Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin, fully clad in a Santa suit.
As always, Thomas hopes to see the program grow each year and serve more area children.
“It was one of our biggest years ever,” Thomas said. “It’s a lot of work. A lot of people really opened their hearts up.”