Toys for Tots begins delivering Christmas gifts to children in need

ST. GEORGE — More than 30 cars and trucks arrived at a warehouse, 4012 S. River Road, Saturday, where an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 toys were stored and prepared for delivery to needy children for Christmas.

As cars and trucks pulled up to be loaded, volunteers checked and verified each scheduled route to ensure the gifts were being delivered to the intended family.

This family received a delivery of Christmas toys from Toys for Tots, St. George, Utah, Dec. 19, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Shane Dastrup, St. George News
This family received a delivery of Christmas toys from Toys for Tots, St. George, Utah, Dec. 19, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Shane Dastrup, St. George News

Toys for Tots deliveries will continue through Christmas eve, to ensure families are provided for, retired Marine Gy. Sgt. Rick Massey said.

This week we’ll pick up from Kony, the school district or wherever,” Massey said. “So in the end we provide gifts for about 3,000 children in the Southern Utah area.”

“I’m just a coordinator, a middle man, and I want to thank those who have shown their support,” he said.

Car Guys Care, a group of car clubs that organized a “Show and Shine” car show Dec. 12, raised $3,400 and received donations of more than 300 toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation, volunteer and Car Guys Care member Shane Dastrup said.

With 300 deliveries scheduled on Saturday, some volunteers returned to make additional deliveries as well, he said.

This family received a delivery of Christmas toys from Toys for Tots, St. George, Utah, Dec. 19, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Shane Dastrup, St. George News
This family received a delivery of Christmas toys from Toys for Tots, St. George, Utah, Dec. 19, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Shane Dastrup, St. George News

“It’s kind of a fulfillment thing for a bunch of us guys,” Dastrup said.

Dastrup’s wife volunteers for the cause as well.

Toys for Tots, a  Marine Corps’ nationwide organization that started in 1927, was created to bring toys to needy children for Christmas. Local Toys For Tots Coordinator, retired Marine Gy. Sgt. Rick Massey, expressed his gratitude for volunteers, donors and businesses making the project a success.

Numerous volunteers gave up time with their families Saturday to help those children that may have otherwise gone without this holiday season.

“Every child deserves a Christmas,” Massey said.

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Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

Ed. Note: Toys for Tots Coordinator is retired Marine Gy. Sgt. Rick Massey.

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