Taking advantage of the unseasonably mild weather, Robert Coulter, Jr. American Legion Post 1941 held its sixth holiday Toys for Tots drive November 26.
The event is held in conjunction with the nationwide Toys for Tots drive, which originated with the United States Marine Corps and is one of the Corps’ biggest charity events.
“It’s going pretty good,” Post Junior Vice Commander and event chair Bill Kiddon, said at 11 a.m. “We filled up these racks already.”
The racks he was referring to contained clothing donated to the needy, which added to the toys collected, forming the bulk of Post 41’s contributions to the program.
“We’ll collect new toys, and new or gently-used clothing,” Kiddon said.
Post Commander Steve Jasinski hoped for a record-breaking total of donations.
“It’s been another fantastic event, he said. “Last year we set a record, with more than 1,200 toys collected and 300 coats. “We’re hoping to break that this year.”
Like everyone in the country, the Post had to adjust its operation to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, it began collecting coats as well as toys, and while the event had previously been held exclusively indoors, added a drive-up function as well.
Kiddon noted that adding the drive-up saw the total toys collected go from 300-400 to over 1,200.
The event drew volunteers from a variety of different sources, including members of Post, two active-service U.S. Marines, two members of the Chicago chapter of the Salvation Army, and local teen members of the La Grange LeaderShop.
Also key to the drive were the members of the Auxiliary Unit of Post 41. Previously, the group was known as the Lady’s Auxiliary, but with so many women now serving in our Armed Forces, their spouses were now members of the auxiliary.
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Toys for Tots’ website relates how the drive began in 1947 and was the idea of Diane Hendricks, the wife of Marine Corps Major Bill Hendricks.
Diane Hendricks had produced a few handmade dolls that she wanted her husband to deliver to some organization dedicated to underprivileged children. When he told her he couldn’t find such a charity, her reply was simple. “Start one,” she told him.
Bill Hendricks did just that and in the first year they were able to give away 5,000 toys.
The USMC shortly made it an annual event involving Marines all around the country and in recent years has averaged 6 million toys collected for the needy every year.
Contacted later, Jasinski said that the total number of toys and coats was slightly under last year’s total, with about 250 coats and 22 boxes filled with toys.
“We got about what we expected to get,’ he said. “It was a good year again.”
Jasinski wanted residents to know that Post 41 had several other regular activities designed to produce benefits for the less fortunate in the community, stressing that they were how the Post produced benefits for the community.
“We have bingo every Monday, a pancake breakfast sometime in the Spring, a spaghetti dinner, and various bands performing,” he said. “We give to the local Boy Scouts, the Little League, and various charities for Veterans.”
For further information on the Robert Coulter American Legion
Post 1941, visit its website at al1941.org
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.