NEW YORK -- Marines will load Toys for Tots donations into tactical vehicles in Times Square from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19 to Friday, Dec. 24, during their final collection of toys before Christmas.
There will be the following opportunities for members of the media:
-Limited availability to ride to and from the toy warehouse in the tactical vehicle -Available for morning show appearances each day prior to 8 a.m.
-Marines fluent in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hunan available for interviews upon request -This event is open to the public, and media are not required to RSVP -Photos and video b-roll of the event will be available at www.dvidshub.net/units/NYCMarines on Tuesday.
Marines will be collecting toys from all of their New York City Toys for Tots drop-off locations and bringing them to Times Square. They will pack them into a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, usually referred to as a 'seven-ton' in reference to its cargo capacity, and take them to their warehouse throughout each day. More information about the MTVR can be found at http://www.oshkoshdefense.com/products/6/mtvr.
Sixth Communication Battalion, a Marine Forces Reserve unit based in Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, runs the Toys for Toys drive for New York City. Last year they collected approximately 280,000 toys, the majority of them being collected during this last-week scramble before Christmas.
New, unwrapped toy donations will be accepted at their Time Square location all week.
The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.
This event will be held in front of the US Armed Forces Recruiting Station at 43rd St. between Broadway and 7th Ave.
Those wishing to ride with the Marines, or for further questions, should call 718.338.9695.