US Embassy Launches Christmas Toy Collection for Panamanian Children

December 9, 2011

Public Affairs Officer David Searby, U. S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Kenneth Grooms, Mail Boxes Etc. President in Panama Christopher Thompson and ‘Charlie the North Pole Elf’

Public Affairs Officer David Searby, U. S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Kenneth Grooms, Mail Boxes Etc. President in Panama Christopher Thompson and ‘Charlie the North Pole Elf’ launched the annual Toys for Tots program at the Mail Boxes Etc. in Paitilla. The goal of the Toys for Tots program is to deliver a message of hope and joy at Christmastime to less fortunate children by providing them with a gift of a new toy.

Mail Boxes Etc. is the local sponsor for the Toys for Tots program and is providing their stores as drop off locations for toy donations. The U. S. Marine Corps 2011 Toys for Tots will begin collecting toys on December 9^th and continue until 19^th. Toys will be delivered as Christmas gifts to centers working with youth in underserved neighborhoods in Panama. The President of Mail Boxes Etc, Christopher R. Thompson, wants to encourage public to drop their toy donations at one of their four participating Mail Boxes Etc. locations: Boquete, Coronado, Albrook and Paitilla. Last year the Embassy collected nearly 1000 toys and the Marines hope to collect even more this year.

Toys for Tots is an international program organized by U.S. Marines both in the United States and stationed worldwide. For the last 64 years, the Toys for Tots Program has delivered a message of hope to less fortunate children through the simple act of providing a new toy. In 2010, Marines distributed 16.7 million donated toys to more than 7.2 million children who might not have otherwise experienced the magic of the holiday season. So many children were reached because of the generous support of the public.

For more information on Toys for Tots, please visit: www.toysfortots.org.