A member of the Schuylkill Carbon Marine Corps League Detachment 626 was out and about on Wednesday picking up toys for the annual Toys for Tots distribution at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School, Lehighton.

Joe Balogach, member, is only one of the many former Marines who take part in this annual event which helps so many children have a better Christmas.Balogach said that this year the MCL will be serving 600 families with toys.In Carbon County, 460 families are registered, with 160 families registered in Schuylkill County."This is a busy time of the year for us. We're picking up toys throughout the county and then taking them back to the church and bagging them," he said.Balogach said that last year the Detachment helped out 700 families with toys."We'll be helping the Salvation Army next week with food baskets and some toys," Balogach said,Balogach said that this year's collections were generous and each child will receive four toys through the Toys for Tots program.This year's date for distribution will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Salem Bible Fellowship Church, Mahoning Township.