Oceanside CA— Last night, December 1, 2017, SpringHill Suites by Marriott hosted their third annual tree lighting ceremony for Toys for Tots. This year, for the first time, the event was held in conjunction with the First Friday ArtWalk.
“I know there are tree lightings happening all across the nation tonight but can you beat that,” said Oceanside City Council-member Jerry Kern pointing to the view of the pier from the upper deck at SpringHill Suites, site for the night’s festivities.
“This is a great community, Oceanside. We are always glad to be a part of this celebration that kicks off the Toys for Tots season,” said SMMC Oufnac, USMCR.
The Toys for Tots program began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR founded Toys for Tots in Los Angeles, California. The first toy was a handmade Raggedy Ann doll and 5,000 toys were collected during a campaign before Christmas 1947. Last year was the second best year for the program with total revenue of over $280 million Records were set in direct mail and website donations.

“What we ask for in the months of October, November and December is an unwrapped, unused, new toy. We collect that and give it back to the community,” explained SMMC Oufnac. If know somebody that can use a toy from the program, they can go to the Camp Pendleton Toys for Tots website [button color=”gray” size=”small” link=”https://campen-4th-lar-ca.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx” target=”blank” ]Here[/button] and register.”
“Together everyone achieves more and we have done that here tonight. Oceanside Friends of the Arts has been given the opportunity to donate 50 teddy bears for Toys for Tots, “said Susan Brown, President of the Oceanside Friends of the Arts which produces the monthly First Friday ArtWalk.

Along with the many art displays and food tastings from various local restaurants, attendees were treated to a taste of the Oceanside Theatre Company’s(OTC) upcoming production of ‘Miracle on 34th Street which opens December 15 and runs the December 23 at the Brooks Theatre. You can learn more about the show[button color=”gray” size=”small” link=”http://siteline.vendini.com/site/oceansidetheatre.org/miracle-on-34th-street—a-radio-play-2017″ target=”blank” ]Here[/button]

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