Stadium GM looking to boost Toys for Tots collection this year

SALEM -- Looking to double the number of toys it will distribute to disadvantaged children this year, the Stadium GM Superstore and the Chevy All-Stars kicked off their annual Toys for Tots marathon toy drive on Monday.

The event runs through Dec. 23.

Stadium GM is located at 292 W State St. and will work with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for the third year running.

Shorty Navarro, owner of Stadium GM, served in the Marines himself and helped launch the 2016 drive with Staff Sergeant Julian Yost, the local Marine Corps recruiter who is located at 2789 E. State St., and Sgt. Chan Sy of the Boardman recruitment office at 205 Boardman-Canfield Road.

Navarro said he was happy to "help out people who don't have money for children's presents."

Stadium GM General Manager Mike Hudock said Stadium held the Toys for Tots for just a few days last year and the response was "overwhelming."

He said people can drop off new, unwrapped toys during business hours.

Last year, the goal was for 500 toys and in a few days reached over 700.

This year, the goal is double so the timespan of the drive will continue for a longer period.

Also helping to kick off the drive, coming all the way from the North Pole, was Santa Claus, who delivered the first batch of toys to Stadium himself. Football fans could also meet former Cleveland Browns star Don Cockroft.

Navarro said his involvement with the Marines and Toys for Tots spanned 45 years when he was in the Marines.

"I used to do this kind of work," he said, "it's fun helping the kids. There are a lot of poor kids. It's good to be able to do this. Last year we had over 700 toys … 1,500 is our goal."

He added, "We hope that people from the community will come out and help this toy drive be as big as possible.

"Our goal for this drive is to help put some smiles on some children's faces this Christmas season.

"Christmas is all about giving. And we are going to start off the drive with a large donation for area kids and we hope that others will join in and give to help us exceed our goal."

New unwrapped toys can be donated at the Stadium GM Superstore on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Marines will collect all of the toys for distribution.

The Marines ask that donated toys are not wrapped and must be new to be accepted into the Toys for Tots program.

The cost of the toy doesn't matter. It just needs to be new and in it's original packaging and unwrapped.

The Toys for Tots program was started in 1947 and since then the Marines have distributed over 512 million toys to over 237 million less fortunate children. In 1995, the secretary of defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and as an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.

Navarro said, "That's what's we do. We serve our country. We never stop. It's the right thing to do. We try to do the right thing. I served my country, I still serve my country."

lshields@salemnews.net