Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 25, 1994 TAG: 9411250032
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Since word seeped out that the "Toys for Tots" campaign in Roanoke had fallen victim to federal policy, the phones at the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Center have been ringing constantly.
People want to volunteer. Organizations want to donate proceeds from fund-raisers. Nightclubs want to sponsor "Toys for Tots" nights.
But the reserves unit has yet to secure a place to house a distribution center, a place where from which it can get the toys to needy children.
"We've really gotten a big response from individuals," said Capt. Scott Poindexter, the Roanoke unit's inspector instructor. "But as far as coming together with one solid location where we can work, it seems like it's floating outside around the perimeter."
The 48-year-old campaign has been hampered in Roanoke and elsewhere by a change in the Department of Defense ethics regulations that prohibits Marines - and other branches of the military - from soliciting donations of cash, goods or services. That left Poindexter with more than $200,000 in unsolicited contributions for toys and no way to ask for help without violating that law.
"We really need to be able to turn this over to someone outside of the Marine Corps," Poindexter said. "The volume of toys we have to distribute is overwhelming."
The Marines' problem was a partial blessing for volunteers at the Community Christmas Store in Salem, a volunteer effort to help people who cannot afford to buy presents for their loved ones.
Volunteers were trying for the second year to fill the store with merchandise - all of it donated or purchased with contributions. They contacted the reserves unit and received a response that surpassed volunteers' expectations.
The Marines offered to supply all of the store's toys.
"That was a marriage made in heaven," said Janie Whitlow, co-chairwoman of the Christmas store. "Their needs dovetailed right into ours. It frees up money for us to buy clothing and food."
The offer is no meager one. The store expects to serve 500 families with about 700 to 800 children. Still, the Marines expect to have enough left over to buy toys for children in other communities.
"Toys for Tots is the first organization to come in and say, `We'll stock this whole section for you,''' said Teresa Thomas, chairwoman of the store's publicity committee. "What we'd like to be able to do long-term is establish partnerships with other organizations, community service groups that will say, `We'll do all your food baskets or do all your infant section.'''
Poindexter wants much the same - to establish partnerships with community organizations that can help the Marine Reserves unit in Roanoke keep Toys for Tots alive without breaking federal law. Even with the Christmas Store partnership, the unit still needs a distribution center.
Reserve units in other parts of the country have established community-based committees to help with administrative work and ease the ethical dilemma. A similar committee would be ideal in the Roanoke area, Poindexter said.
"If we could merge the Christmas store with the Toys for Tots campaign, it would benefit both organizations," he said. "The concern for us is that we don't lose our identity."
For more information on the Toys for Tots campaign, call 563-4979. Toys for Tots coordinator is Sgt. Ronald Vandegrift. Assistant coordinator is Sgt. Steven Whalen. The campaign serves Roanoke, Salem, Vinton, Roanoke County and seven surrounding counties, including Botetourt, Craig and Franklin.
by CNB