What started with a single Raggedy Anne Doll has turned into a nationwide Christmas event for less-fortunate children.

Kicking off the 27th consecutive year of Toys for Tots, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve is ready with open arms. Floods of children will storm the Fairgrounds next Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. anxious to see what the brightly wrapped gifts contain.

The Toys for Tots program in Kitsap County is organized by the Olympic Peninsula Marine Corps League as part of a national effort connected with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

After collecting more than 1,110 toys, both donated and purchased with monetary donations, the looming tasks of separating and wrapping the gifts continue on.

But to these Marines, every minute is worth it.

“We spend countless hours waiting to see the smiles on the little kids faces,” said Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan Garcia. “That’s more than 1000 little smiles.”

Red Toys for Tots drop bins are located sporadically throughout the county, including at the Kistap Mall, Silver City Brewing Company, Best Buy and the Navy Federal Credit Union, where local Marine Corps league members collected the donations. 

Harry Tachell, a retired Marine and co-organizer for the local Toys for Tots program said one of the most difficult parts to getting the toys ready for the children is separating them into age and gender groups. Marine Corps League members and volunteers then spend countless hours wrapping and categorizing each individual present.

“I don’t want the kids to know what’s inside of the package,” Tachell said.

Along with toy donations, employees of the Strategic Weapons Facility (SWFPAC) at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor raised more than $7,000 in donations. With the money in hand, SWFPAC volunteers made the trip down to outlet toy stores in Centralia to purchase the last loads of toys for the event.

“All of these guys volunteer to do this and help the kids,” Tachell said.

A quick look at the sheep barn at the Fairgrounds prove that the needy children of Kitsap County will have the Christmas they’ve been dreaming about. With piles upon piles of wrapped presents, and those waiting to don the festive holiday cover, Sam Martin, wrapping co-coordinator, said they expect to provide presents to over 2,000 children.

“It’s a feeling that words can’t explain,” said Lance Cpl. Justin Musser. “Knowing that all these children will have presents for Christmas sends chills down your spine.”

When the day comes to distribute gifts, parents can bring their children to the pavilion to see santa and receive a surprise goody bag. Then, the children can go up to any Marine volunteer and tell them their age, and they will direct them in the right direction to receive their holiday toys. Children up to the age of 13 are welcome, however each parent must be accompanied by a child and visa versa.

Dotty Tachell, wrapping coordinator, has the special honor throughout the afternoon of the gift exchange of handing out plush animals to unhappy babies.

“They let me wander in the crowd, and I get to give toy teddy bears and kitties to crying kids,” Dotty Tachell said. “I’m the only woman I know that gets to take care of 3,500 kids.”

Although kids will receive the presents next Saturday, toy donations will still be accepted until Dec. 27, and applied toward next year’s collection. Volunteers to wrap presents are still needed for next week. Wrapping will occur in the sheep barn at the fairgrounds, Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Volunteers can contact Sam Martin at (360) 692-7233 for more details.