2009
South Bend, Indiana

I-I Staff, Engineer B Company

Coordinator 1stSgt John J Pettinato Jr

Assistant Coordinator SSgt Carlos A. Aguilar

Family and Friends of St. Joseph County, South Bend, IN,

This year’s campaign for Toys for Tots has officially begun. I have recently returned from the Toys for Tots conference in Virginia, and I’m excited to start another campaign here in St. Joseph County. The conference was intended for all Marine and civilian coordinators to receive the most recent training on the campaign. The foundation is always looking for more coordinators and volunteers to assist in the day to day operations of the campaign. If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact the Toys for Tots foundation at www.toysfortots.org. You can also find your local coordinator through this website. Please keep in mind all areas do not have coordinators; therefore, the campaign does not happen in all areas.

Currently, one-third of South Bend’s Bravo Company is deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Since my workforce is down this year, I will be depending more on community volunteers to assist in the behind the scenes operations, which are the backbone of the campaign. I will do my best to ensure there will be as many Marines in Dress Blues in front of as many boxes and at as many events as possible.

Parents and Guardians: You can sign your children up at either the Salvation Army or the St. Vincent de Paul Society. These organizations have their own sign up requirements, dates, and times. These organizations are the primary effort of the campaign and will receive the majority of the toys collected. I will support the remaining toy requests with local church and community groups. If you are a group interested in receiving toys, please contact me before October 13th at 574-233-8616 ext 262 or 258. Also, donations can be mailed to the unit address or arranged for pick up. If funds are mailed directly to the foundation, they will go to the foundation and not St. Joseph County.

Anyone interested in materials, such as drop off boxes, posters, pins, or stickers, please contact the unit for pick up or to arrange a delivery. Please help in spreading the word that the Toys for Tots campaign has started, and let’s help make the holiday season a little brighter for those less fortunate.

 Semper Fi,

1stSgt John J Pettinato Jr