The Toys for Tots program anticipates to bring more smiles to children in the CNMI this Christmas season with the official launching of the program last Wednesday at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

This year, the U.S. Marine Corps, which spearheads the program in the region, is partnering with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Northern Marianas College, the Office of the Governor through first lady Wella Palacios, the Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs, and the CNMI’s Women’s Association for the Toys for Tots program, according to Lt. Col. Dean Damin, operations officer for Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Guam.

“We look forward to another great year,” Damin said.

He added that a drive will be held with the help of local families that will receive the gifts, and the team is encouraged to see the willingness of the community to come together to make Christmas a great experience for a child while bringing a message of hope.

“… it’s not just donating a toy. It actually brings joy and happiness to kids and really kind of makes Christmas for probably some kids that might not have such a great experience otherwise,” he said. “The Toys for Tots program would not be possible if it [weren’t] for the community coming together and combining the resources for the same cause.”

Last year the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, which is an annual partner in the Toys for Tot program, helped collect 2,602 of a reported 4,227 toys on Saipan.

As has become tradition, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce will once again be soliciting their businesses to display drop-off boxes at their businesses where the public can drop off their donations of new, unwrapped toys that will be handed out to underprivileged children this Christmas.

“We’ve been partnering with Toys for Tots for as long as I’ve been involved with the Chamber. …This is one of the ways that the Chamber works to give back to our community,” Chamber president Joseph Guerrero told reporters.

The Toys for Tots program anticipates to bring more smiles to children in the CNMI this Christmas season with the official launching of the program last Wednesday at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

This year, the U.S. Marine Corps, which spearheads the program in the region, is partnering with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Northern Marianas College, the Office of the Governor through first lady Wella Palacios, the Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs, and the CNMI’s Women’s Association for the Toys for Tots program, according to Lt. Col. Dean Damin, operations officer for Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Guam.

“We look forward to another great year,” Damin said.

He added that a drive will be held with the help of local families that will receive the gifts, and the team is encouraged to see the willingness of the community to come together to make Christmas a great experience for a child while bringing a message of hope.

“… it’s not just donating a toy. It actually brings joy and happiness to kids and really kind of makes Christmas for probably some kids that might not have such a great experience otherwise,” he said. “The Toys for Tots program would not be possible if it [weren’t] for the community coming together and combining the resources for the same cause.”

Last year the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, which is an annual partner in the Toys for Tot program, helped collect 2,602 of a reported 4,227 toys on Saipan.

As has become tradition, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce will once again be soliciting their businesses to display drop-off boxes at their businesses where the public can drop off their donations of new, unwrapped toys that will be handed out to underprivileged children this Christmas.

“We’ve been partnering with Toys for Tots for as long as I’ve been involved with the Chamber. …This is one of the ways that the Chamber works to give back to our community,” Chamber president Joseph Guerrero told reporters.