Local business aids Toys For Tots

On Friday, Dec. 18, East Dundee business GAT Guns presented a check in the amount of $30,000 to Toys For Tots.

GAT Guns and their employees have worked diligently over the last few months fundraising and collecting new, unwrapped toys to help support the Toys for Tots program.

Manager Randy Potter presented the gifts and a check to Toys for Tots coordinator, CWO3 Patrick Kackert of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

GAT Guns is among many organizations and local businesses participating in this year's campaign, but so far it has raised the most in monetary donations.

"The Toys for Tots motto is 'every child deserves a little Christmas,'" Kackert said. "We are honored to have GAT Guns be part of Toys for Tots and assist us with delivering a message of hope to needy children in the community.

"This generous donation couldn't have come at a more crucial time, as donations are down this year. We are especially short of toys for boys and girls ages 8-14," Kackert said.

Toys for Tots is a charitable program and foundation instituted by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1947. The program's mission is "to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to children in need throughout the community in which the campaign is conducted.

The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny, new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy children that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

For information about Toys for Tots, visit the official Kane County website at batavia-il.toysfortots.org for a list of drop-off locations or information on how to make a cash donation.