Toys for Tots serves 175 kids in Sanders County families
With help from Mike Dennison of the Marine Corps League Detachment 1041, Diana Elrod of Plains loads toys in a bag during pickup for the Toys for Tots program on Dec. 15 at Gospel Mountain Assembly of God Church in Thompson Falls.
Kelli Hensley of Noxon selects toys from a wide array on display at Gospel Mountain Assembly of God Church during Toys for Tots distribution on Dec. 15 in Thompson Falls. Mike Dennison of Marine Corps League Detachment 1041 provides assistance. Toys for Tots program on Dec. 15 at Gospel Mountain Assembly of God Church in Thompson Falls. (Joe Sova/Clark Fork Valley Press)
U.S. Marine Corps League Detachment 1041 Toys for Tots coordinator Mauri Morin and his wife, Barbara, have worked hand-in-hand while distributing toys to needy children in Sanders and Lake counties for more than a decade. Mauri is retiring after 11 years as Toys for Tots coordinator. (Joe Sova photos/Clark Fork Valley Press)
U.S. Marine Corps League, Detachment 1041 out of Polson, has completed its 2018 Toys for Tots drive in Sanders County.
Detachment coordinator Mauri Morin and his wife Barbara — and other volunteers — were on hand all day last Saturday, Dec. 15 at Gospel Mountain Assembly of God Church in Thompson Falls to accommodate the pickup of toys by Toys for Tots applicants.
Barbara said Toys for Tots served about 175 youngsters in Sanders County this year — with an age range from toddler to 18 years old. That distribution number was down a bit from last year, when nearly 200 kids received toys through the program. While Mauri is the coordinator, Barbara is the application record keeper and heads up the toy distribution.
“Mauri talked to the other (Toys for Tots) coordinators and they all commented that the number (of kids served) are down significantly. I hope that is because the economy has improved.”
Families throughout Sanders County applied for assistance online or by filling out a printed application. Toys were picked up all day long Saturday, some going to families with just a child or two. One family representative said she was picking out toys for 10 kids in her “blended” family.
“There were five families who had not applied by the deadline. They filled out forms (last Saturday at the T-Falls church) and we helped them,” Barbara said.
She said Mauri is completing his 11th year as Toys for Tots coordinator for the Marine Corps League’s Detachment 1041. It has been announced to the Marine Corps League that this has been Mauri’s final year, as he is retiring as Toys for Tots coordinator.
Mike Dennison, a Detachment 1041 member, was one of the Toys for Tots volunteers this year. He said he would be installed as Detachment 1041 coordinator in January.