VFW Collects Toys for Military Families

When Operation Homefront organized a toy drive for children of servicemembers, they knew they could enlist the help of the VFW.

“They asked us to help and we said yes, because we will do anything to support the troops,” said Donald Marshall, a past Department of New Jersey commander. As the current chairman of VFW Operation Uplink™ in New Jersey, Marshall was one of the VFW members who spearheaded the toy drive effort.

Operation Homefront worked with Dollar Tree to collect toys and donations at each store during the holiday season, and the VFW stayed busy collecting box after box of donations.

“One store called and said they had 36 cases to pick up! That’s more than 1,200 toys!” said Marshall.

Marshall and his comrades are pleased to put smiles on the faces of children who are dealing with the deployment of a parent.

“The response was wonderful,” he said. “The Dollar Tree stores asked every customer to donate $1 to buy a toy. Who could refuse?”

I can’t imagine how many carloads of toys we’ve picked up,” he continued. “By the end, we had collected over 280,000 toys!”

After the drive, the VFW dropped the toys off at the nearest Family Support Center, Armory or military base. Many Ladies Auxiliary VFW members took time to wrap the toys. The VFW also participated in Christmas parties across the state where the toys were distributed to children of military members.  

Marshall and his comrades were pleased that people didn’t forget about military families during the holiday season. But for him, the best part was continuing the tradition of service in the VFW.

“We are veterans serving forever, and we care enough to make a difference,” said Marshall. “This is the least we can do for the troops.”

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