The spirit of giving is alive in Eastern Carolina! We would like to thank all who donated to our 2012 Toys for Tots drive -- you helped make it a big success! Once again, we had two studios packed full of toys which will go on to make many girls and boys in Eastern Carolina very happy on Christmas morning!

(Click the image to the right to see a slideshow of the drive.)

We would also like to thank our wonderful sponsors! Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Greenville provided a large truck which transported all the toys from our Washington Studio to where they will be sorted and then distributed to kids in Beaufort County.

The five Greenville Jersey Mike’s locations also served as drop-off locations during the collection period. Brian Stockwell, owner of 8 Jersey Mike’s Subs in Eastern NC, said, "We were so happy to be a part of this awesome community event. With the original Greenville Jersey Mike’s locations being directly across from the Greenville WITN studios, we had watched the great support over the years as people brought by their Christmas toy donations. Jersey Mike’s, both locally and at a corporate level, are always looking for ways to give back to the community, and this just seemed like a wonderful opportunity. We’re already looking forward to partnering with WITN again next year."

Robinson Law Firm collected 3 large boxes of toys and 10 bikes.

Since beginning the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program in 1947, Marines have distributed more than 452 million toys to more than 209 million needy children. In 2012, Toys for Tots collected over 8000 toys in Pitt County alone.

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WITN will accept donations for the 2012 Toys for Tots drive from Monday, November 19th through Thursday, December 13th. This year's drive is sponsored by Ashley Furniture Home Store, Jersey Mike's Subs and Robinson Law Firm.

Toys for Tots is a campaign run strictly through the US Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for Tots Foundation. Each year, the US Marine Corps teams up with various businesses and organizations to provide toy drop-off locations for those wishing to make a donation. The Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Corps League and civilian volunteers collect all toy donations and distribute them to needy families in the area.

WITN is proud to once again be a major collection site for the Toys for Tots Foundation.

Be part of Toys for Tots 2012 and make your donation by simply dropping off any new, unwrapped toy(s) at WITN's Greenville or Washington studio during the following hours:

Washington Studio - Hwy 17 S. in Chocowinity
Monday-Friday, 9am-5:30pm

Greenville Studio - Arlington Blvd.
Monday-Friday, 7am-10am / 2pm - 5:30pm

To register as a Toys for Tots recipient, contact a Marine Corps representative:

If you reside in Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell or Washington counties, contact:
Vincent Tesoro
(252) 212-5525
oroset@juno.com

Beaufort County residents can also contact:
Rich Morin
Assistant Coordinator for the Northeast District (including Beaufort County)
(252) 402-6156
rich.morin@century21.com

If you reside in Wilson County, contact:
Jeffrey Jones
(252) 205-6506
WilsonCoToys4Tots@yahoo.com

If you reside in Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow or Pamlico counties, contact:
Vincent Sicilia
(910) 440-2851
vincent.sicilia@usmc.mil

For other counties, visit the official Toys for Tots website: www.toysfortots.org

*WITN cannot register recipients or distribute toys.