L-R Gunnery Sergeant Curtis Dunham, Kiwanis President Dawn Austin, Program Chairman Distinguished Past President Jay Lynch, and Lance Corporal Matthew Rankey, hold a few of the toys that were donated.

On Thursday, December 14, the Kiwanis Club of Somerville, along with their friends from the Somerville Lions Club and Somerville Rotary Club hosted their annual Toys fFor Tots luncheon at the Mount Vernon Restaurant.

Gunnery Sergeant Curtis Dunham and Lance Corporal Matthew Rankey of the United States Marine Corps, joined in again this year as they proudly collected a record number of toys donated by members of the three clubs for the Toys for Tots campaign.

Nineteen Somerville Kiwanis members as well as fifteen members of Somerville Rotary and Lions Clubs plus one additional guest attended the event. Following a wonderful buffet lunch, Gunnery Sergeant Dunham and Lance Corporal Rankey thanked the clubs for their continuous support of the Toys for Tots program for more than 29 years.

Member Adam Portney from Middlesex Federal Savings Bank presents the check for $2000.00 to Sergeant Dunham along with Program Chairman, Jay Lynch.

There was a special surprise when Distinguished Past President Jay Lynch, the program chairman, presented the Marines with a check for $2000, a donation made by the Middlesex Federal Savings Bank, who have been long time supporters of the Somerville Kiwanis Club and Toys for Tots program. Special thanks are extended to Past President Michael McWilliams and Member Adam Portney from Middlesex Federal for helping to make this donation possible.

Kiwanis President Dawn Austin thanked the members of all the clubs for their support of the children who are being served by the Marine Corps program. After the meeting, the members loaded the toys in the Marine Corps van to capacity.

In a separate program, the Somerville Kiwanis Club delivered wrapped toys to 180 children from Somerville and Cambridge who are part of the Head Start program and have been identified as most in need of help at Christmas.

To learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Somerville, or to become a member, visit our web site, www.somervillekiwanis.org. You can also follow them on Facebook, Kiwanis Club of Somerville.