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Men wearing red coats will once again be helping Santa to bring presents to children in the Northern Panhandle.
The Jones, Wolin and O'Brien Marine Corps League Detachment 771 in Wheeling is restarting the Toys for Tots campaign locally.
In 2012, local Marine reserves units left Moundsville and took their Toys for Tots effort with them, explained John Labriola, now coordinator for the Toys for Tots drive in Ohio, Brooke and Hancock counties.
Labriola said he moved to the area in 2018, and joined the Marine Corps League in 2021. He decided he would work to restart the campaign. And Labriola said he wasn't the only one wanting to bring back the holiday Marine effort. In Moundsville, Jamie Faulkner -- the wife of a former Marine -- also wanted to work with Toys for Tots, and she has taken over as coordinator for Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler and Harrison counties.
"We decided we would team up to get this thing going again," Labriola said. "Our key thing is to spread the word that the Marine's Toys for Tots are back in the area."
Faulkner explained her husband was in the Marine Corps for 10 years, and during that time they were heavily Involved with Toys for Tots at Camp LeJeune.
The local Toys for Tots are collecting toys for newborn children to age 12. In Ohio County, these can be dropped off at Cabela's, all Straub auto locations including Elm Grove Dodge, and at local veterans organizations.
In Marshall County, toy donation boxes have been placed at Hometown Floral, Red Dragon Taekwondo, Mounds of Nutrition, Take A Bow dance studio and John Marshall High School. Toys being donated should be new and unwrapped.
Those wanting to apply to receive toys, donate money, or put a donation box at their business should visit toysfortots.org. Faulkner can be reached at 304-504-3107; and Labriola at 304-830-9200.
Labriola said there are events coming up to support Toys for Tots. The first of these is set for Nov. 7 at Texas Roadhouse at The Highlands, where 10% of the profits collected that day will be donated to Toys for Tots.