The Sun Community News
December 2, 2018
By: ELIZABETH IZZO
ROUSES POINT | “Toys for Tots” will ride into Clinton and Essex counties next Sunday.
Toys collected across the region will be delivered to North Country children on Dec. 9 aboard six tractor trailers, with planned stops in Fort Edward, Ticonderoga, Lewis, Keeseville and Rouses Point.
This beloved holiday procession that brought 10,000 toys to local children last year will be powered by Upstate Transit of Saratoga and escorted north by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.
This year’s toy collection drive is currently underway at more than 400 locations, including drop-off points at 100 Dunkin’ restaurants, according to the Capital Region Toys for Tots Foundation.
Marines will work with more than 200 community agencies to distribute the toys and will be equipped to serve 200,000 children.
Dunkin’ has been a chief contributor, donating nearly $300,000 to the program over the past decade.
Representatives from the local sheriff’s departments in Clinton, Essex and Washington counties will help deliver the items.
AMTRAK BOWS OUT
The announcement came after Amtrak notified the Marine Corps in August that the company would no longer provide a free charter train for the program, sparking concern that the charity could be forced to terminate the annual program.
Amtrak had initially planned to halt service after adopting new guidelines for charter trains.
But at the urging of Reps. Elise Stefanik, Paul Tonko and John Faso, the service pullout was temporarily staved off.
Though the three representatives again urged Amtrak to continue service, the company announced it planned to uphold the new guidelines.
“Once again the community came together to make sure we didn’t fail,” retired Sgt. Albert Roman, the local Toys for Tots campaign coordinator, said in a statement. “The power of this community is so tremendous. I’m confident that together we can accomplish anything.”
Local officials were effusive at the continuation of the program.
Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said he was pleased to work with his counterparts in Clinton, Washington and Essex counties.
“It was extremely exciting to be able to provide the support and coordination needed to allow the Marines and Capital Region Toys for Tots to complete their mission of delivering toys to these locations reaching as far as the Canadian Border,” Zurlo said in a statement.
TOYS FOR TOTS SCHEDULE
The Toys for Tots procession will roll into the North Country Sunday, Dec. 9.
The full schedule of stops includes:
Ticonderoga: 1092 Wicker St. at 12:30 p.m.
Lewis: 702 Stowersville Rd. at 2 p.m.
Keeseville: 1460 Route 9N at 3 p.m.
Rouses Point: 39 Lake St. at 4:30 p.m.
