Venango Co. Toys for Tots gearing up for Christmas season

From staff reports

Flush from providing more than 500 toys to children in the area last year, the annual Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program is gearing up to collect even more this time around.

“This year, we expect the need to be even greater,” said Lisa Winger of Oil City, local coordinator for the Venango County Toys for Tots campaign. “Everything stays local -our money and our toys.”

Volunteers working on the campaign are seeking help in four areas: providing a toy collection site, helping promote Toys for Tots, providing a product or service suitable for raffle and monetary donations, said Winger.

“We believe every child deserves a little Christmas,” said the coordinator. “We rely on citizens and businesses to help.”

Information on how to help is available by calling (814) 677-4402 and leaving a message for Winger.

At the same time, the campaign is conducting registration for families and individuals wishing to add a child’s name to the Toys for Tots distribution list.

Online registration can be done at fb.com/venangocountytoysfortots.

In-person registration is set from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4, 18 and 25 at the Oil City VFW Post, 2 Relief St. The sign-up deadline is Nov. 30.

Information needed for the registration includes the parent/guardian name, name and birthdate of children and birth certificates. Those certificates are available by contacting (877) PA-HEALTH.

Distribution day is set from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Oil City VFW.