Last week, the Somerville Kiwanis Club joined forces with the Somerville Rotary Club and Somerville Lions Club to benefit the USMC Toys For Tots program.

On Thursday, December 12, Somerville Kiwanis Club members were joined by our good friends from the Somerville Rotary Club and Somerville Lions Club for our annual Toys For Tots luncheon meeting. Three members of the Marine Corps joined us for this special tri-club meeting.

Everyone attending brought unwrapped toys for donating to the United States Marine Corps. Toys For Tots program. In addition to more than two hundred fifty new, unwrapped toys, the Marines were presented with a check for $2000.00 from Middlesex Federal Savings Bank plus another $50.00 from a bank employee. The check was presented to Marine Sgt. Guzman by member Adam Portney from Middlesex Federal Savings bank.

Our meeting began with as always with the pledge of allegiance and opening prayer, after which everyone present sang the Marine Corps Hymme in honor of our Marine Corps guests.

At the end of the meeting, the members helped to load the Marine’s van with the hundreds of donated toys which will make Christmas a little happier for children in need in our area.

President Tom Austin and Co-President Dawn Austin thanked the members and our Lions and Rotary Club friends for their support and special thanks to the Marine guests, Staff Sergeant Guzman, Lance Corpora Laub and Sergeant Abako for their service. Special thanks also to Program Chairman, Distinguished Past President Jay Lynch for another successful toy drive.

— Somerville Kiwanis Club