Guaranteed happy faces

December 16, 2010

Lynn Bennett was one of 30 Senior Corps-RSVP volunteers who organized and arranged the array of gifts waiting to be claimed by registered parents at the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign pick-up Wednesday. (Photo by Holly Shok/The Punxsutawney Spirit)

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Judging by Wednesday’s bookkeeping, Senior Corps-RSVP Director Janeen Love said more than 415 Jefferson County kids will benefit from the annual Toys for Tots Christmas campaign.

Toys for Tots — operated by Community Action on behalf of the Marine Corps Reserve — had collection boxes placed at area businesses throughout November and December and provides eligible, registered children with three big toys and a grab-bag.

This year’s campaign collected close to 1,700 toys in total, Love said.

“Most of the people we serve, this is their Christmas,” she said, gesturing to the tables of toys. “We thank all of the local businesses and community members for donating. We couldn’t have done Toys for Tots without the support of the community.”