A 77000 Donation to United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program

By: Lilia M. Rodriguez

Community Writer

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The East Los Angeles Toy Depot in Pico Rivera, CA was the location for the $77,000 check presentation Stater Bros. Charities presented to the USMC for the local 2015 Toys for Tots effort on Dec. 15. On this day, Stater Bros. and Daymon Worldwide employees volunteered to sort a variety of new toys.Photographed from left are: Louie Gomez, Chris Castillo, Brian McDaniel, USMC representatives, Shawn Hogle, Tom Seaton, Jamie Darby, Daniel Sosa, Laurel Dickerson, Lindsey Holderness and Nancy Negrette.

For 11 years, Stater Bros. Charities has been making magical holiday moments come true for Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside County youngsters participating in the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. On December 15, Stater Bros. Charities, the charitable arm for Stater Bros. Markets, presented the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Toys for Tots Program with a $77,000 donation. The charity also announced that it’s also expanding its giving effort to include Kern, Orange and San Diego counties that make up the company’s service area. A group of Stater Bros. “Family” of employees gathered at the East Los Angeles Toy Depot to sort toys and make the check presentation to representatives of the USMC. Since 1947, the United States Marine Corps has been collecting unwrapped toys for distribution to disadvantaged children one to 14 years of age throughout the United States. Stater Bros. Charities joined the effort in 2004. With the ongoing and generous support of customers, manufacturers of Stater Bros. brand products and the national brands Clorox, ConAgra Foods, Kraft Foods, Nestle Sales, Pepsi Beverages Company and Smucker’s Retail Foods, Inc., Stater Bros. Charities has donated more than $362,000 to the local community effort in its 11 years of participation. “The best part of the season is seeing the joy on a child’s face when they’re holding a new toy,” emphasized Pete Van Helden, president and chief operating officer for Stater Bros. Markets. “Every time our customers purchase selected Stater Bros brand or national brand products, they allowed us to place more smiles on young faces. And for that we’re most thankful!”