US Marines to Collect Toys at at Long Wharf Theatre, 12/20

Long Wharf Theatre will host representatives from the 6th Motor Transport Battalion, a Marine Corps Reserves unit based out of New Haven, on Thursday, December 20th from 1 to 7 p.m. to wind up the Toys for Tots drive.

Marines in uniform will be on hand to greet patrons and to collect new, unwrapped toys just prior to the holiday. Marines pick up these toys and store them in central warehouses where the toys are sorted by age and gender. At Christmas, the Marines, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the less fortunate children of the community.

All throughout December Long Wharf Theatre has been a drop off location for the Marines annual Toys for Tots drive. "I am very grateful for the response from our audience," said LCpl Mathew Pellegrino, a reservist who also works as a Long Wharf Theatre box office supervisor. "They've been generous, filling two large boxes full of gifts for area kids. We hope that on Thursday we can make one final push to make even more local children can wake up to a gift on Christmas morning."

According to Toys for Tots, the objectives of the organization are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

For more information about Long Wharf Theatre, call 203-787-4282 or visit www.longwharf.org. For more information about Toys for Tots, visit www.toyfortots.org.