As the 2011 holiday season quickly approaches, Brentwood Firefighters hope to help spread a little holiday cheer this year. Brentwood Fire & Rescue is once again joining forces with the United States Marine Corps Reserves to provide drop off points for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program. Each fire station, as well as the Brentwood City Library and Brentwood City Service Center on General George Patton Drive, will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for children in need throughout the middle Tennessee area. Collection started the beginning of November and will last through December 25th.
Staff Sergeant Scott Benaske with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines and the Nashville Area Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program Coordinator is excited for this year’s Toys for Tots. “Last year Toys for Tots in Middle Tennessee provided over 70,000 toys to over 28,000 children. This would not have been possible without organizations like the Brentwood Fire & Rescue who were instrumental in the success of the 2010 Toys for Tots campaign in Williamson County.” Staff Sergeant Benaske added, “Toys for Tots is honored to work with Brentwood Fire & Rescue again this year.”
The United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation oversees the nation-wide program that serves over 500 communities in all 50 states. They are an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Since 1991, the Toys for Tots Program has donated over 80 million toys valued at close to $490 million.
This year, Brentwood will be concentrating on the Toys for Tots program only. They will not be accepting used Christmas decorations as they did last year which was designed to assist flood victims. You can help the Marines and Brentwood Fire & Rescue with their mission by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy at one of the four Brentwood Fire Stations, the Brentwood City Library, the Brentwood City Service Center, or any Toys for Tots drop off location. Just look for a drop off location by spotting a Toys for Tots poster in the window of a business or visit the Nashville Marines Toys for Tots website at www.ToysForTots.org and select Nashville, Tennessee.
The addresses for the four Brentwood Fire Stations can be found at the Brentwood Fire & Rescue website, www.Brentwood-Tn.org/Fire. Toys can be brought by any time. Toys that are damaged or opened from their original package cannot be distributed.
For more information on the Toys for Tots program, please visit www.ToysforTots.org. For information about Brentwood Fire & Rescue, visit www.Brentwood-TN.org/Fire or call (615) 371-0169.
