New Canaan, CT – December 23, 2010
Another load of toys headed for the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots program collected by Karl Chevrolet in New Canaan CT (PHOTO – l-r – Santa (aka Steve Benko!), US Marine Peter Havens, and KARL Chevrolet Toys for Tots coordinator, Donna Strout)
Karl Chevrolet in New Canaan wishes to Thank all of our customers who donated toys to our effort to collect for the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots program this year. In a sign of what a great community we have, our Silverado Pickup was filled to over flowing many times during the past month as once again, Karl Chevrolet collected a significant portion of the total number of toys collected throughout southern Connecticut. For more than twenty five years, Karl Chevrolet has supported this wonderful cause, and as part of the Chevy’s Giving More effort, the 2010 collection was among the best ever.
Here at Karl Chevrolet, we could not run such a successful effort without the dedication, planning and follow-up of our program coordinator, Donna Strout – THANK YOU Donna! We also partner with a wide range of community supporters. Specifically, we would like to thank Rob Avery and Cub Scout Pack 4 and Boy Scout Troop 70 for their contributions; the Young Women’s League of New Canaan and the New Canaan Recreation Department and all their helpers at Breakfast with Santa; Tucker Murphy and the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce and all of our local merchants who helped during the Annual New Canaan Holiday Stroll; and Chirs Kilbane and his family at the New Canaan Toy Store. We’d also like to thank our friends and partners in the media who helped us spread the word, including Janet Nazarian and the crew at Cox Radio stations the Fox 95.9FM, WNLK 1350AM and WSTC 1400AM; Cheryl Shaker at New Canaan Patch: and the Hersam family along with their team at the New Canaan Advertiser.
Most especially, George Ducanic and his dozens of volunteers from Stamford’s American Legion Post 3 and VFW Post 9716 who manage the massive task of collection and distribution of toys through their Stamford warehouse. George and his crew perform an incredible job receiving, sorting and then splitting up the toys for distribution to those families in need. With thousands of requests coming in from a wide range of churches, social service organizations, civic groups, and other community based organizations, their enthusiasm to get the job done in an efficient and timely fashion is nothing short of amazing. They are the real hero’s of this massive effort!
Our Silverado pickup was filled and emptied at least eight times in the past four weeks as Karl Chevrolet collected an estimated 5,000 toys. It is a pleasure to work with such dedicated volunteers who ensure that no child goes without a toy at this special time of year. Everyone involved with Toys for Tots, from donors to volunteers, should know that their efforts don’t just provide a child with a toy at Christmas; rather your efforts ensure that a whole group of children and families know that their neighbors care. Thank you from all of us at Karl Chevrolet for your thoughtfulness and generosity.
Members of Cub Scout Pack 4 brought in toys they had collected as part of a troop project.
At the New Canaan Young Women’s League ‘Breakfast with Santa’, guests were asked to donate a toy to the Toys for Tots Program. Karl Chevrolet supplied a new Suburban where the toys were depositied.
Santa along with his Young Women’s League Elves…. including Karl Chevrolet’s own Donna Strout
Some of the Toys collected by KARL Chevrolet of New Canaan CT for the 2010 US Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program
Leo Karl III and Donna Strout from Karl Chevrolet deliver another load of toys to George Ducanic and his team of volunteers at the Toys for Tots collection and distribution center in Stamford CT