The city of Lake Charles, United Way of Southwest Louisiana and the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program are coming together to spend the rest of 2024 gathering toys to be donated to children at Christmastime.

The city and United Way of SWLA partnered Thursday for the all-day “Christmas in March” community toy drive at the Lake Charles Event Center. Community members were invited to drop off new, unwrapped gifts in their original packaging. At this event, the three organizations announced a renewed partnership that will increase the number of toys that are donated to in-need children at the end of this year.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said that it was time to “get the band back together.”

“Toys for Tots has done some wonderful things over the years, and I always believe that if we want to have an effort to make an impact, it’s better to not reinvent the wheel. Let’s see what’s already out there, what can we make better as opposed to starting something that’s separate.”

On Saturday, Dec. 21, a large scale toy distribution event will be held at the Lake Charles Event Center. Throughout the year the United Way of SWLA will be collecting toy and funding donations and helping families prepare for the Toys for Tots registration process and the city will host additional opportunities for donations, such as the Partners in Parks “Christmas in July” community toy drive.

United Way of SWLA President and CEO Denise Durel said that she was so excited for the partnership that when she was presented with the opportunity by Hunter, she “jumped the gun” and ordered $15,000 worth of toys for the Christmas in March toy drive.

She said that it is important for the community to do “anything that we can do to help our economically challenged families, especially the children who have that ability to have that wonderful Christmas holiday magic that all of us remember as children.”

Hunter explained that the reinvigorated partnership would not have been possible without volunteers, especially Patina Stansberry, campaign coordinator, SWLA Toys for Tots.

“I want y’all to know how committed she is to this organization, and how committed she is to this community,” he said.

David Cooper, vice president, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, echoed this by stating that volunteers like Stansberry are the “heart and soul” of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

Last year, the SWLA Toys for Tots campaign collected 3,125 toys through donations and distributed 8,183 toys purchased with fundraising dollars to thousands of children in Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis Parishes. He explained that nationally in 2023, 133 reserve units and 731 volunteer led organizations distributed 25.4 million toys to 10.2 million children.

Toys for Tots is a longstanding national institution. Cooper recalled that the program began in 1947 in Los Angeles when the wife of a Marine Major could not find an organization to donate a doll to. They decided to do it themselves, and that December 5,000 toys were distributed by his Marine Reserve Unit.

Afterwards, they collectively decided there should be a nationwide collection and distribution initiative. With the help of the Major’s peer and friend Walt Disney, the iconic three train car Toys for Tots logo was designed.

The 76-year success of Toys for Tots is thanks to the “generosity of the American people,” he said.

“I can’t tell you how amazing it is to see people go buy a toy, come out and drop that toy into a box.”

He also said that relationships with local governments are “critical to the achievement” of the program.

“The foundation and the local Southwest Louisiana Toys for Tots program look forward to a phenomenal 2024 and beyond. We know with your support, more children will be able to receive the assistance to propel them to be better citizens and reach their full potential.”

Registration for the toy distribution in December will begin mid-October, but interested residents can call 211 to learn more about Toys for Tots and other assistance programs.

Additionally, financial contributions to the SWLA Toys for Tots campaign can be made at unitedwayswla.org/toys or by texting “T4T” to 91999.