Palatine village council chamber filled with donated toys

Palatine's village council chamber showed the area's generosity this week as it was packed with gifts that will go to less fortunate children for Christmas.

In what's become a holiday tradition, Mayor Jim Schwantz congratulated the Palatine Police and Fire Benevolent Association for its work in heading the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots effort locally.

Scores of toys were placed in front and around the village board dais. Visitors seated in the gallery hardly could see Schwantz or the council members above the gifts.

"This is amazing," Schwantz said amid the sea of toys. "This is an amazing amount."

Donations will be accepted through Monday, Dec. 17, Schwantz said. Toys may be dropped off at the village hall, 200 E. Wood St.; fire station No. 85, 39 E. Colfax St.; or police headquarters, 595 N. Hicks Road.

Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to less-fortunate children in the community where the campaign is conducted. In 1995, the secretary of defense approved Toys for Tots as an activity of the Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.