Toys for Tots enters 25th year in Las Cruces

The 76^th season of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is under way in Las Cruces.

The Marines have been busy, placing more than 150 toy collection boxes throughout Las Cruces, White Sands Missile Range and southern Doña Ana County.

With the help of the community, Toys for Tots distributed more than 18,000 new toys, books and stocking stuffers to more than 5,600 local children in 2022. Due to the year-round school program, toys will be distributed earlier this year. If your box is full, please let us know, and we will pick up the toys.

As always, the local program is in need of gifts for older children, such as balls, board games, art kits, jewelry-making kits, Barbie dolls and clothing, teen coloring books and sports equipment.

Gifts don’t need to be expensive; Toys for Tots just need a lot.

Monetary donations are needed as well, as Toys for Tots volunteers can do the shopping for you.

Volunteers are needed as well.

U.S. Marine Joe Montoya has announced his retirement after 20 years with the local campaign. He has given his heart and time to the program and it would not have been successful without him. We will miss him, his sense of humor and his dedication to Toys for Tots. Going forward, we will be looking to local organizations to help us deliver and pick up the toy-collection boxes. There are several routes that could be split among a number of groups.

Toys for Tots of Las Cruces is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. The late Jack and Peggy Petrowsky started Toys for Tots in Las Cruces in 1998, providing toys for 65 children.

For more information, contact Patty Groth at 575-202-6185 or Joe Montoya at 575-571-7728. Email las.cruces.nm@toysfortots.org. Visit Las Cruces Toys for Tots on Facebook. Mail donations to Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 14002, Las Cruces, NM 88013.