Pancake breakfast to support Toys for Tots

Once a year local Marines prove their big guns are matched by big hearts when they go on a mission to track down toys for the children of Yuma.

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma recently kicked off its popular Toys for Tots campaign. The annual drive collects thousands of toys, which local nonprofit organizations distribute to children in needy families.

Organizers say Marines may look rough and tough, but when kids are concerned, they're a lot like the teddy bears they're trying so hard to collect.

"It's awesome. Marines always tell me 'I love doing this! What else can I do?'" said Staff Sgt. Edwin Jose, one of the drive's coordinators. "It feels good to them to know they are making a difference, not just for their country, but for their community, too."

Through the holiday season local Marines will be accepting toy donations at various events. About 60 businesses around Yuma County have also been designated as drop-off locations for toys. (See list)

Toys will also be collected Saturday, Dec. 5, at a special pancake breakfast. The Toys for Tots fundraiser is slated for 7 to 10 a.m. at Applebee's on 4th Avenue. The all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast will include sausage and drinks. The cost will be a $6 donation for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger. Jose said 100 percent of proceeds will benefit the toy drive.

After the breakfast, the next event will be the KYMA Toy Drive, which is slated for Dec. 10. The event will take place near Harkins Yuma Palms movie theater from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information about making monetary donations call Jose at 269-2181. People should also call Jose if they are interested in having a Marine attend an event or holiday party for toy collection. More information can also be found at ToysForTots.org.

"This is something the Marine Corps can do to give back to the local community," Jose explained, "the same local community that supports us in the job we do."

Last year's Toys for Tots drive collected more than 15,000 toys in Yuma County.

"Our goal is to always beat that number," Jose said. "Donations may not always increase, but the need always increases. Every year the need for toys is more."

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Toys for Tots: Drop-off locations

SOMERTON
Cocopah Casino: 15318 S. Avenue B
Somerton Fire Department: 445 E. Main St.

SAN LUIS
Maurice's: 582 E. Piceno Drive
Southwest Junior High School: 963 N. 8th Ave.

YUMA
American Self Storage: 1775 E. Palo Verde
AZ Counseling & Treatment Center: 2573 S. Arizona Ave. Suite D
Aztec High School: 2330 W. 28th St.
Branch Medical Clinic: Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Brown Bag Burger: 5800 E. 32nd St. No. 2
Cibola High School: 4100 W. 20th St.
Coldwell Banker: 11361 S. Foothills Blvd. Suite No. 1
Dancemakers Studio: 1420 South Avenue B
Desert Breeze RV Park and Travel Camp: Yuma Proving Ground
Desert Oasis Community Housing: Yuma Proving Ground
Disabled American Veterans: 954 S. 13th Ave.
Dollar General: 11592 S. Fortuna Road
Dollar General: 1221 W. 16th St.
Ed Whitehead's Tire: 965 S. 4th Ave.
Farm Bureau Insurance: 242 W. 28th St.
Fisher Chevrolet: 3201 S. Chevy Lane
Fishers Landing Resort: 11176 N. Fishers Landing Road
Foothills library: 13226 E. Frontage Road
Foothills Storage: 13245 E. 44th St.
Gila Ridge High School: 7151 E. 24th St.
Harvest Communications: 1929 S. Arizona Ave. Suite 2
Hueser Chiropractic: 144 W. 32nd St.
Kofa High School: 3100 S. Ave. A
KYMA TV Channel 11: 1385 S. Pacific Ave.
Law Office of Shadle & Walsma: 833 E. Plaza Circle
Marine Corps Air Station: Front Gate, MCAS Yuma
Marine Corps Exchange: MCAS Yuma
Marine Mart: MCAS Yuma
Martinez Lake Resort Cantina: 10430 N. Martinez Lake Road
Midas: 1522 4th Ave.
Navy Federal Credit Union: MCAS Yuma
Panda Express: 1900 E. 16th St.
Pass and Registration: MCAS Main Gate
Quality Power Batteries, INC.: 642 E. 39th Place No. 5
Ramada: 300 E. 32nd St.
Santa Photo: Yuma Palms
Servemart: MCAS Yuma
Sierra Montana Sales Office: 3733 S. Akers Way
Springhill Suites Marriott: 1825 E. 18th St.
Starbucks: 3115 S. 4th Ave.
Starbucks: 1418 S. Yuma Palms Parkway No. 101
Starbucks: 1630 S. Pacific Ave.
Sunrise Elementary School: 9943 S. 28th St.
Toys For Tots Warehouse: Southgate Mall
Toys R Us: 801 W. 32nd St.
Walmart: 2501 S. Avenue B
Walmart: 2900 S. Pacific Ave.
Walmart: 8151 E. 32nd St.
Western Sands RV Park: 10459 South Frontage Road
Yuma Fire Department Station No. 2: 3284 S. Avenue A
Yuma Fun Factory: 4446 E. County 10th St.
Yuma Heart Center: YRMC 2400 S. Avenue A
Yuma High School: 400 S. 6th Ave.
Yuma Insurance: 2691 S. 4th Ave.
Yuma Sun: 2055 S. Arizona Ave.
Yuma Superior Court: 250 West 2nd St.