Hello everyone,

Just wanted to let everyone know that we will be participating in the 13th annual Toys for Tots 4 x 4 Drive on Sunday, December 11th.

For those who don't know, Toys for Tots was begun in the 1940's, and is sponsored by the United States Marine Corps.  The goal is to get as many toys as possible for kids who otherwise would not be getting toys for Christmas.

They request that all toys be in the original packaging, and no stuffed animals or toy guns.

The 4 x 4 run begins on Sunday 12/11 at 8am at McCormick Place, procedes north on Lake Shore Drive, and ends at the Marine Corps Reserve base near Kedzie and Foster.  Last year there were a couple hundred 4 x 4's that participated.  You are encouraged to decorate your vehicle, but it is not mandatory.

If you have a 4 x 4 and would like to participate, call Paul at our office for more details.  If you don't want to be part of the parade but would like to donate a toy, please feel free to drop one off at our office any time before Friday, December 9th at 3:00pm, and we'll load them up to be delivered to the Marines.

Just as an aside, last year I happened to be shopping at Toys R Us for Christmas presents, and just happened to go on a day and time that there were about 50 Marines in the store, shopping for the Toys for Tots program.  It was a pretty amazing sight to see all these men and women in uniform spending their own money to help make the world a little better for some kids they didn't even know...as if they hadn't already done way more than most of us.  We are very proud of them.