By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

For more than 65 years the U.S. Marine Corps has been collecting and donating toys as Christmas gifts for less fortunate children as part of its Toys for Tots program.

Area Federated Auto Parts once again are helping to collect toys with locations throughout western Kansas and eastern Colorado.

Ryan Bickle, vice president of Sales at S&W Supply of Hays, is helping to coordinate the program locally and said Federated is hoping to collect more than the 1,500 toys collected last year.

Federated Auto Parts has 73 drop-off locations across the region, including six in Hays, and the will be collecting toys now through Dec. 8, when the toys will be presented to the Marines.

They will also collect donations at the Frost Fest Parade on Dec. 6.

The Marines will sort the toys and use the money donated to purchase more toys before delivery.

This is the third year Federated Auto Parts has helped with the collection, and Bickle said all three years students from TMP-Marian have held their own collection.

“For them to get kids involved at that age I think is awesome,” Bickle said.

Bickle said this year they sent TMP two large collection boxes, which were quickly filled, and the students requested additional boxes.

For more information or to request a toy, go to toysfortots.org.

You can also find out more about Federated Auto Parts collection HERE.