Conejo Valley Realtors kick off Toys for Tots

REALTORS COLLECTING TOYS––Conejo Valley Toys for Tots founder and coordinator Brent Davis is flanked by Toys for Tots program representative Sgt. Reggie Darden and Ventura County program coordinator Staff Sgt. Hector Flores of the U.S. Marine Corps. Residents can donate new, unwrapped toys at real estate offices and schools throughout Conejo Valley. The drive is a cooperative effort of the Conejo Valley Association of Realtors. The toys will go to underprivileged children in time for the holidays. The Conejo Valley Association of Realtors, in conjunction with the Marine Corps Reserve, is sponsoring the annual Toys for Tots charity drive in the Conejo Valley.

Realtors brought a variety of unwrapped toys and games to donate to the annual kickoff on Nov. 6. Receptacles were distributed to real estate brokerage offices and approximately 20 schools throughout the area. The drop-off locations for public donations will be available throughout the toy drive, which ends the week of Dec. 14.

The Toys for Tots project aids local charitable organizations such as Manna, Many Mansions, St. Paschal’s Men’s Club, Catholic Charities and the Children’s Home Society, with the goal of helping children have a happier holiday.

Connie Reed, association president, presented this year’s first donated toy to USMC Toys for Tots Ventura County program coordinator Staff Sgt. Hector Flores and program representative First Sgt. Reggie Darden. Flores and Darden’s unit, Weapons Company 2nd Battalion 23rd Marines, is based at Port Hueneme and has just returned from deployment in Iraq, stationed in Ramadi and Baghdad.

The original Toys for Tots program was founded in 1947 by Col. Bill Hendricks. Hendricks came up with the idea for Marine Reservists to collect and repair used toys to hand out to needy children.

Today only new, unwrapped toys are accepted, and older children and teens up to age 18 participate as well. Good choices include toys, stuffed animals, games and age-appropriate books for younger children, and cologne, cosmetic items, sports equipment and age-appropriate books and games for older recipients.

The local Toys for Tots effort was developed by retired Col. Brent Davis, USMC, more than two decades ago. Davis had served with Hendricks and brought the Toys for Tots idea locally when he retired in the Conejo Valley to become a Realtor. For the past 23 years, Davis has served as the program’s chair. For the past several years he has been assisted by Beverly Pickrell, who is in charge of distribution.

The Conejo Valley Association of Realtors’ office is at 463 Pennsfield Place, Ste. 100, Thousand Oaks. For more information, call (805) 495-4681 or visit www.cvar.com.