Marines need donated space in Manatee to store ‘tot’ toys

Finding warehouse space at the North Pole to store toys before Christmas apparently is no problem for Santa.

But warehouse space is much more dear in Manatee County where the Marine Corps League Desoto Detachment # 588 of Bradenton is searching for it to store toys for its upcoming 2017 “Toys for Tots” Christmas program.

“We are desperately seeking somewhere in Manatee County where we can put the toys,” Mike McClain, senior vice commandant for the Desoto Detachment, announced Monday at the kickoff of the 2017 Toys for Tots campaign. “We’re putting toys in our closets. We are hunting for space now.”

The detachment needs a minimum of 1,500-square-foot of space with a restroom, air conditioning and a means to lock it up, McClain said.

“Since we pretty much work in the space 24/7 during the season and have a lot of women working a lot of late hours, we need a secure area,” McClain added.

The local Marines have a non-profit status for Toys for Tots so someone who donates space will receive a tax deduction certificate for the current rental value of the property, McClain said.

The detachment hopes to top its 2016 toy haul of 50,896 donated new and unwrapped toys.

Every year for about the past 20, the detachment has delivered the new toys to The Florida Department of Children and Family Services which takes applications during the year from needy families. Families are called to pick up the toys — three toys per child is the goal — shortly before Christmas, McClain said.

New and unwrapped toys for children infants through age 16 can be brought now to the Detachment at 5225 26th St. W., Bradenton.

Anyone with space is asked to contact Robert Fearon at 941-726-8483.

This story was originally published August 21, 2017 at 5:05 PM with the headline "Marines need donated space in Manatee to store ‘tot’ toys."