Knights Ferry Masons holding first Toys For Tots drive
Oak Summit Masonic Lodge 112 F&AM of Knights Ferry is having its first drive for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are being accepted through Dec. 9 or 10.
The Masons have established 12 drop points in Oakdale: Ace Hardware, 1010 E. F St.; Save Mart, 1449 E. F St.; Oak Valley Jewelers, 1449 E. F St., Suite 103B; Steves Chevrolet, 1285 E. F St.; Haidlen Ford-Mercury, 1355 E. F St.; Suzy Belen’s Mexican restaurant, 140 N. Third Ave.; Pizza Hut, 1570 E. F St.; Sara’s Dry Cleaners, 1080 W. F St.; Kmart, 175 S. Maag Ave.; Cost Less Grocery, 888 N. Yosemite Ave.; Tractor Supply, 1580 E. F St.; and Wells Fargo Bank, 105 W. F St.
Toys For Tots distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. Bill Hendricks, a major in the Marine Corps Reserve, founded the program in Los Angeles in 1947. The effort gathered 5,000 toys for distribution that Christmas.
In 1995, the secretary of defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.
This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Knights Ferry Masons holding first Toys For Tots drive."