WILMINGTON, MA — The Town of Wilmington received the United States Marine Corps Reserves Commanders Award for its support of the Toys of Tots program.
Board of Selectmen Chair Mike Champoux accepted the award from Staff Sargent John Tipton, the Toys for Tots Coordinator for Middlesex and Essex County, at Monday’s Selectmen’s Meeting.
“The United States Marine Corps Reserve is proud to recognize the Town of Wilmington for its outstanding support of the 2015 Marine Toys for Tots program,” said Tipton. “Your generous contributions have allowed the Marine Corps to bring the joys of Christmas and send a message of hope to America’s less fortunate children.”
“We appreciate all the help we get from local communities,” said Tipton, who noted that the Toys for Tots program collected 92,000 toys from cities and towns in Middlesex and Essex Counties last year.
Local realtor Frank West, now in his 19th year with the Toys for Tots program, announced residents will begin seeing toy collection boxes on several town buildings (including Town Hall), Wilmington schools, and local businesses. Boxes will be out through December 12, with Market Basket will keep their boxes out a little longer for stragglers. Donated toys must be unwrapped.
“It’s an honor for me to assist the Marines and, in some small way, help out the local community,” says West. “We put out the empty boxes and, by some miracle, they get filled… It shows the spirit of giving in [Wilmington and Tewksbury].”
To learn more about the local Toys for Tots program, including how to request toys, visit http://www.devens-ma.toysfortots.org.
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