MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- There will be a few more toys under the Christmas tree this year for high desert children thanks to the overwhelming success of the 24th Annual Toys For Tots Telethon held Dec. 6 at the Barstow Elks Lodge.
Donations from local residents, military and civilian employees of MCLB Barstow and NTC Fort Irwin totaled nearly $60,000 in toys and money, according to Mal Wessel, co-chairperson of the Barstow Community Toys for Tots Program.
The 6-hour telethon, which aired on Time Warner Cable Channel 6, boasted auctions that included a car, truck and a gas grill, plus entertainment provided by local celebrities and choirs.
As one of the major contributors, donating about 1,200 toys to the Toys For Tots Program, MCLB Barstow's commanding officer, Col. Liz Bergman, was on hand to make the presentation along with Assistant Fire Chief Steve Mulcare and other firefighters with the MCLB Barstow Fire and Emergency Services Division.
In making the presentation Col. Bergman first thanked Mal and Connie Wessel for the many years of work they have done in supporting the Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Program. She also thanked the Marines and civilian Marines aboard the base for their contributions and support of the program, and the Fire and Emergency Services Division for coordinating a successful on-base program.
Mulcare revealed that this was MCLB Barstow's best year for Toys For Tots in quite some time and attributed that to "Tots for Tots Tuesday," held Dec. 2, and the military and civilian employees aboard base.
Toy donations are still coming in even though the telethon has come and gone, and those toys will be delivered to children at the hospital and Halley House, according to Mulcare.
Toys donated and collected during the telethon will be distributed Dec. 16 - 18, said Mal Wessel.
After 24 years the annual Toys For Tots Telethon, through the support of local residents, has once again been called a success and because of it there will be a few more smiles and joyful noises come Christmas Day in the high desert.