HARRISBURG, Nov. 21, 2012 –  State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione announced today that she is again hosting a “Toys for Tots” collection box in each of her two district offices.

“Through these years of difficult financial times, the people of Philadelphia have always found a way to help those less fortunate,” Tartaglione said. “Toys for Tots has become one of the great and traditional ways of doing that.”

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community.

Since the program started in 1947, Marines have distributed more than 452 million toys to more than 209 million needy children

“Many of the people who stop by to drop off toys say they were once recipients of Toys for Tots,” Tartaglione said. “It shows the importance of this tradition to the community.”

Tartaglione is asking the community to bring new, unwrapped toys to the collection boxes at her district offices at 1061 Bridge Street and 127 W. Susquehanna Ave.. The offices are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Coordinators pick up the toys and store them in central warehouses where the toys are sorted by age and gender.

At Christmas, coordinators, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the needy children of the community. The toys will be collected until December 17.

For more information, go to www.toysfortots.org.