Dyess Marines, Airmen bring cheer with Toys for Tots

  • Published
  • By By Airman 1st Class Mercedes Porter
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Marines assigned to Detachment 1 at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, worked alongside Dyess Airmen and Abilene community members to distribute gifts as a part of Toys for Tots in Abilene, Texas, Dec. 12-13, 2018.

According to the Toys for Tots website, their primary goal is to help bring the joy of the holidays and send a message of hope to America’s less fortunate children by distributing new unwrapped toys.

“This is a huge mission for the Marine Corps,” said Sgt. Tristan Duncan, Det. 1 maintenance company combat logistics battalion Toys for Tots coordinator. “We help bring the hope of Christmas to children who otherwise may not have it.”

Duncan explained that the planning of the event took several months of preparation. They dropped off donation boxes in approximately 160 locations, conducted 20 events to raise funds and collected over 17,000 toys.

“When I was younger I used to go out with my mother to help out with these kinds of events,” said Senior Airman Johann Williams, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft propulsion journeyman. “That helped me strive to continue with helping other people in need now that I’m older and to see them smile, it feels really nice.”

For information on Toys for Tots or how you can help, visit https://www.toysfortots.org.