WAYLAND, Mich. — Kids across West Michigan will have toys to wake up to on Christmas morning thanks to a massive Toys for Tots donation today.
The casino was able to raise more than $47,000 dollars worth of toys this year for Toys for Tots, beating last year’s numbers.
More than 300 people visited the casino and donated toys. In exchange, the casino gave donors up to $100 dollars towards free slots.
“And we were able to get some amazing toys from our guests to do that, Carter Pavey, Vice President of Marketing at Gun Lake Casino said. It's a win-win for everyone. It’s a win for the children. It's a win for our guests, and it's a win for the community.”
The marine corps covers Ottawa, Allegan, and Van Buren counties for their Toys for Tots donations, collecting toys at more than 600 locations.
The partnership continues to make sure less fortunate children are able to have what every child deserves, and that’s toys for Christmas.
Marine Corps League of Holland’s Karl Knitter says it’s important to make every child’s Christmas special.
“It's just the kids need to have that Christmas, they need to have something for Christmas”, Knitter said. They need to have recognition and they need to know that people care about them.
“The Marine Corps League cares about all the kids in our community, and we're so happy to be able to support them. It's amazing to us to be able to contribute to this level.”
The marine corps usually needed a small utility trailer for the toys, but because of everyone’s donations this year, they got a semi-truck to haul all the toys.
“So, for us to be able to change a child's Christmas and being able to be that vessel for us to receive the gifts to be able to give to these children, I think it makes all the all the difference”, Pavey said.
The final step for Toys for Tots is to take all of these toys back to their warehouse in Holland where they’ll be separating them by age to distribute right in time for Christmas.
Today was the last pickup for the toys, and they are now ready to be given to thousands of children for Christmas.
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