The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program will kick off its 2018 program on Oct. 1 with donation boxes set up in businesses and other locations across the Middle Peninsula, local Toys for Tots coordinator Jodey Clements.

Since 1947, Marines have been making Christmas wishes come true for needy children. Last year, approximately 5,100 children in Gloucester, Mathews and Middlesex counties received toys through nonprofits and organizations from Toys for Tots, she said.

“The local Toys for Tots team works very hard to make Toys for Tots a success, but they could never do it without the help of concerned citizens and business leaders,” Clements said. Toys for Tots relies on local businesses for assistance, including in providing a warehouse site for distributing and storage of toys, toy collection sites, help with fundraising, helping to screen and distribute toys and helping to promote Toys for Tots in the media. They currently have a critical need for permanent wa...