SILD Toys For Tots 2021 Campaign Underway in Southern Indiana

By Kris Norton

Dubois Co. – The Southern Indiana Leatherneck Detachments’ (SILD) 2021 Toys for Tots Campaign is underway in Southern Indiana.

SILD Toys for Tots Coordinator Pat Moriarty and National Officer Dave Englert joined WITZ Radio to share how the public can give – and receive – the gift of Christmas this holiday season.

Residents in Dubois, Pike, Perry, and Orange Counties may have already noticed the large, white, “TFT” boxes at participating locations. Though some age groups, like 3-10 years old, are easy to find gifts for, others, such as 10-13, prove more difficult, says Moriarty.

“Those gifts for that age group is pretty tough because they have got their cell phones by then, and they’re doing a lot of technical stuff,” Moriarty said. “So it’s hard to get those people a gift, but we still manage to do it.”

Recommendations from Moriarty and Englert include: perfume or bath sets, jewelry, fishing poles, footballs.

Another difficult age group: 0-2. Recommendations from Moriarty and Englert include: plush animals and teething rings. The SILD traditionallly earmarks monetary donations for age groups where donation numbers are lacking, says Moriarty.

“The money that we collect goes to buying toys in an age group that we don’t necessarily get donated toys for,” Moriarty added.

Donations, both toy and monetary, go towards supporting Dubois and surrounding counties. By Moriarty’s estimate, Toys for Tots serves anywhere between 3,200 and 4,000 children per year. Each child receives two toys and stocking stuffers.

Englert urges struggling households to apply online, where the toy requesting process is simple and discreet.

“It’s like this, if your kids aren’t going to get a Christmas unless you get some help, please go online to SILDMarines.com… and there will be an application there,” Englert said. “Within a couple days, you’ll get a response back and it’ll tell you where and when to pick it up.”

The donation period runs through December 11th, but the work doesn’t stop there. Toys will then be sorted and selected for individual children. Through what Moriarty calls “Work Parties”, the public can help. The public is welcome to “just stop by” the distribution center any Tuesday or Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. up until December 11th.

The distribution center is located at 402 McCrillus St., Jasper, Indiana.

More information on donating, or requesting toys can be found online at jasper-in.toysfortots.org, or by calling 812-695-5061.