County, Marines team up for Toys for Tots drive

Donations collected

through Dec. 5

at Ramona Airport

Area residents can help the U.S. Marine Corps and San Diego County put smiles on the faces of less fortunate children this holiday season by donating new, unwrapped toys at county airports in Ramona, Fallbrook, Carlsbad, El Cajon and Borrego Springs during the Marine Corps annual Toys for Tots campaign.

Donated toys may be dropped off at Ramona Airport and other county airports any time until Dec. 5, with the exception of Fallbrook Airport, which will accept donations until Dec. 17.

Uniformed Marines will collect the toys in person at a special event at Ramona Airport, 2926 Montecito Road, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. Those who come to the event will see Marine Corps vehicles, vintage World War II aircraft and other private aircraft on the ground and in flight.

Toys collected at El Cajon’s Gillespie Field, Carlsbad’s Palomar-McClellan Airport and Borrego Valley Airport will be flown to Ramona Airport and presented at the Dec. 10 event.

“The Toys for Tots campaign has been a tremendous success in San Diego County in all the previous years,” said Bill Horn, chairman of the county’s board of supervisors. “As a former combat Marine, I’m honored to work with the Marine Corps and be a part of the Toys for Tots campaign. It’s a great opportunity to spread holiday cheer, not only to the children who will now get toys, but also to everyone who donates toys.”

Last year, donations by San Diego County residents filled four seven-ton trucks, plus a pickup and a Ford Explorer.

For more information, contact Ramona Airport Manager Bo Donovan at 760-788-3366.