Marine Reserve seeks playthings for needy

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign to collect Christmas toys for needy children is under way, said Capt. B.M. Sargent, inspector-instructor for Dragon Platoon, Weapons Company, in Topsham.

The deadline for donations this year is Saturday, Dec. 22.

The program is run by Marines in nearly 200 cities, and toys were given to 5,000 less fortunate children in 1989.

Collection points in the Bangor area will be Cablevision, 278 Florida Ave.; Jeff’s Catering, 1606 Hammond St.; Maine Savings Banks at 765 Stillwater Ave., and 201 Main St., Bangor; 15 Parkway South, Brewer; 31 Main St., Orono; 6 North Main St., Old Town; Bansco Credit Union, 87 Hillside Ave.; University of Maine Credit Union, Rangeley Road, Orono; Bangor Federal Credit Union; Waterrest Waterbeds, Mid Mall, Bangor.

The program was founded in 1947 by retired Col. Bill Hendricks as a local event to aid orphaned children of World War II. Nearly 7,000 toys were collected the first year and the program grew from the local Los Angeles area to a national campaign. Henricks has remained active in the Toys for Tots program.