DAPHNE, Ala. — Representatives of the U.S. Marine Corps left the U.S. Sports Academy Friday with a truckload of toys to be delivered to impoverished children whose families can’t afford to buy presents for Christmas.

“This is all a part of our tradition,” U.S. Sports Academy President Thomas Rosandich, a retired Marine said. “The single most important part of this program is the spirit of Christmas giving.”

Retired Col. John DeWitt joined academy staffers and administrators in bagging up hundreds of presents lying under a 20-foot Christmas tree in the academy’s lobby.

“Although I’m a retired Marine, my presence today is to be the person-on-site for the Marine reserves who are busy with other projects,” he said. “They couldn’t be here and asked if I could represent the Marines for Toys for Tots.”

While Marine reps hauled away this year’s donation for Toys for Tots, community members can still drop off presents for local charities at the academy.

“All of the presents will be forwarded to the Salvation Army and Ecumenical Ministries,” academy director of communications Dave Lubach said.

The drop-off point, located in the academy’s lobby, is open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“This drop-off point here a localized, central location,” Toys for Tots coordinator for Baldwin and Escambia counties Shinora Redmond said.

Redmond added that her motivation to be a part of Toys for Tots is to “never see a child cry on Christmas.”

“This is an international program,” DeWitt said. “The Marine Reserves have been doing it for more than 60 years. It’s a way for the Marines to help support all the communities, to help our children in need.”

HISTORY

Toys for tots was started in 1947, when Maj. Bill Hendricks and a group of Marine reservists in Los Angeles, Calif., collected and distributed 5,000 toys to children in need.

The Marine Corps adopted the L.A.-based pilot project in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. That year, Marine Corps Reserve units across the country conducted Toys for Tots campaigns in each community in which a Marine Reserve Center was located, according to Toys for Tots’ official Web site.

The main objective of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate children that will assist them in becoming patriotic, productive and responsible citizens.

Since the program’s inception, Marines reportedly have distributed more than 400 million toys to approximately 188 million needy children

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation — founded in September 1991 — has served as the program’s fundraising and support organization.

The foundation has supported local toy drives with more than 80 million toys worth almost $487 million as well as providing promotional and supplemental materials valued at more than $6.3 million.

“It’s a wonderful experience,” Rosandich said. “Yesterday, Daphne Middle School came with a bus of kids and teachers. Every single person on the bus came with toys and placed them under the tree.”

“It’s an honorable program for an honorable endeavor,” DeWitt said.