Toys distributed to 500 Albany families - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Toys distributed to 500 Albany families

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ALBANY, GA (WALB) -

An annual charity that helps thousands of children have a Merry Christmas distributed thousands of toys Saturday.

The Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots and Salvation Army have been working hard for many months to make sure children in Southwest Georgia have toys under the tree this year. 

One by one, volunteers call the names of people who count on the Toys for Tots program to make Christmas brighter for their families.

"They are going to be happy," said Shanita Robinson, Mother.

Shanita Robinson says if it wasn't for this program, she wouldn't be able to give her three kids gifts for Christmas.

"I don't have a job, and that is the only way I can get stuff for my kids," said Robinson.

Marines and volunteers sorted and filled more than 500 bags with toys for children in Dougherty and surrounding counties.

"Over the last 4 months we have been collecting toys and today we distributing them to over 500 families that signed up with the Salvation Army," said Gunnery Sgt. Kenneth Starkey, Toys For Tots Supply Chief.

The families who registered for the toys picked them up throughout the day.

"If it wasn't for Albany and the surrounding counties coming out and putting forth the effort it would be, they probably wouldn't wake up to anything" Starkey.

The U.S. Marines who organize Toys for Tots say the community stepped up to make this possible.

"Coming together and working together just to put smiles on faces it has been great" Starkey

Smiles that might not be there if it wasn't for all the hard work of the community.

They also distribute toys to other organizations like the Lily pad, the Camilla Salvation Army and church groups.

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