Batavia elementary students collect record number of toys

Students at Grace McWayne Elementary School in Batavia presented more than just the toys they collected to soldiers from the U.S. Marine Corps Friday morning.After singing their own version of the Marines' Hymn, they also presented them with letters of thanks as nearly every student in the building either shook a hand or high-fived the Marines.

Toys for Tots Coordinator Patrick Kackert of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and other volunteer members helped collect more than 700 toys Friday morning at the school.

The students worked the last few months raising funds and collecting new toys to help support the local program.

Grace McWayne is among many organizations participating in this year's campaign, but so far, the students have collected the most toys, Kackert said.

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

Third-grader Kendall Knecht said she was impressed by the sight of all the Marines on hand, and was glad she got to help kids who were less fortunate.

“This is exciting because you get to give to others that don't have any toys for Christmas,” she said.

Toys for Tots, which started in 1947, distributes new toys to children in need throughout the community in which the campaign is conducted.

For more information about Toys for Tots, visit the Kane County website at http://batavia-il.toysfortots.org.