Toys for Tots Train chugs into Bainbridge this weekend
BAINBRIDGE – The Toys for Tots Christmas Train will be chugging to a stop at the Walnut Street Crossing, 12:05 p.m. Saturday in Bainbridge. Train organizers from the Marine Corps League in the Albany area, will combine their military precision with their charitable spirit to bring bag fulls of toys to organizations in the Chenango and tri-county region.
Canadian Pacific Railway transports the Marines and their precious cargo across the state. The annual expedition used to be the responsibility of the Fox Company reservists, but budget cuts have meant a reshuffling of Marines and Fox Company has relocated out of state.
“We’ve been taking the brunt of it,” laughed Bob Becker of the Marine Corps League, who, along with his fraternity of retired Marines hailing from the capital region have taken up the reins of the New York State Toys for Tots program. Becker has been involved with the state’s Toys for Tots program for 45 years while the Marine Corps League as an organization joined him some 25 years ago.
The Christmas Train will be hauling somewhere between 6,000 to 7,000 toys, to be disseminated throughout the state from its six different stops between Binghamton and Delanson. On Saturday, Canadian Pacific will be making a quick stop in Binghamton to hand over some of their cache to organizations in Broom County, before making its way up to Bainbridge.
Counties without their own local Toys for Tots organizations can make requests for toys from Albany and have their businesses and organizations distribute the toys.
“We try to bring toys to places which are hard to service,” said Becker, refering to the train stops made in regions devoid of local Toys for Tots groups.
The train’s stop in Bainbridge though has grown into an affair much more grandiose than a simple handoff.
“Around 300 to 400 people usually attend each year,” said Chenango County Toys for Tots organizer Roger Barnhart. Attendees will be able to treat themselves to cookies and hot cocoa, supplied by the Rotary and Lions Club. The American Legion will be present to collect old and unserviceable flags. “They usually get a lot because it’s right after Pearl Harbor Day,” he said. Dr. Michelle Gifford will also have a table set up filled with dental hygiene party favors, such as tooth brushes.
“Each year we usually get a lot of new, unwrapped toys from the community during the train stop, which aids us a great deal in our local operation,” said Barnhart.
Between five to six organizations from the region receive the gifts from the Canadian Pacific Christmas Train which they in turn distribute to the needy tykes in their respective localities.
During the train stop, people will be treated something of a spectacle. Santa and his elves will disembark the train along with a contingent of uniformed Marines, to invade the township with goodwill and Christmas spirit. Santa and his entourage will also have some special surprises for the assembled audience and will also be handing out warm clothes such as gloves and coats for the kids.
The Christmas Train visit in Bainbridge usually lasts between 40 to 45 minutes. While those are enjoying Santa’s visit at the front of the train, Bainbridge Boy Scouts Troop 52 will be hard at work at the back of the train. The Marines unload the bags of toys, all labelled with the specific organization they are going to, into a pile outside of the train. Troop 52 will then sort through the pile of toys and expedite them to awaiting vehicles. Members of Troop 52 will also be directing traffic on the street as well as organizing the parking.
“This way the Marines can take it easy,” said Barnhart. “The boys have been doing this for a few years now, so they listen well to the Marines’ instructions and everything goes smoothly. Also thanks to the efforts of Troop 52, the police department also doesn’t have to worry about safety around the tracks or closing down the street, because the boy scouts take care of everything and have a troop member to direct traffic on the street.
“It’s nice what he (Barnhart) has going on down there; we don’t have that anywhere else along the route,” said Becker.
Bainbridge’s American Legion Post and Pine Ridge Groceries band together to make sure the Marines don’t go hungry for the rest of their journey across the state.
“We have been doing it for years because we think it’s a great way to help out a good cause,” said Pine Ridge’s Mike Kauffman. “Every year we make a bunch of subs and sell them at half price to the Legion.” Kauffman said he and the rest of the Pine Ridge staff plan to make 65 foot-longs for the Marines.
“They love it and they always remember their stop in Bainbridge because all they have are snacks and cold meals for their ride,” said Barnhart. “It’s all a wonderful community effort.”
Canadian Pacific Railway transports the Marines and their precious cargo across the state. The annual expedition used to be the responsibility of the Fox Company reservists, but budget cuts have meant a reshuffling of Marines and Fox Company has relocated out of state.
“We’ve been taking the brunt of it,” laughed Bob Becker of the Marine Corps League, who, along with his fraternity of retired Marines hailing from the capital region have taken up the reins of the New York State Toys for Tots program. Becker has been involved with the state’s Toys for Tots program for 45 years while the Marine Corps League as an organization joined him some 25 years ago.
The Christmas Train will be hauling somewhere between 6,000 to 7,000 toys, to be disseminated throughout the state from its six different stops between Binghamton and Delanson. On Saturday, Canadian Pacific will be making a quick stop in Binghamton to hand over some of their cache to organizations in Broom County, before making its way up to Bainbridge.
Counties without their own local Toys for Tots organizations can make requests for toys from Albany and have their businesses and organizations distribute the toys.
“We try to bring toys to places which are hard to service,” said Becker, refering to the train stops made in regions devoid of local Toys for Tots groups.
The train’s stop in Bainbridge though has grown into an affair much more grandiose than a simple handoff.
“Around 300 to 400 people usually attend each year,” said Chenango County Toys for Tots organizer Roger Barnhart. Attendees will be able to treat themselves to cookies and hot cocoa, supplied by the Rotary and Lions Club. The American Legion will be present to collect old and unserviceable flags. “They usually get a lot because it’s right after Pearl Harbor Day,” he said. Dr. Michelle Gifford will also have a table set up filled with dental hygiene party favors, such as tooth brushes.
“Each year we usually get a lot of new, unwrapped toys from the community during the train stop, which aids us a great deal in our local operation,” said Barnhart.
Between five to six organizations from the region receive the gifts from the Canadian Pacific Christmas Train which they in turn distribute to the needy tykes in their respective localities.
During the train stop, people will be treated something of a spectacle. Santa and his elves will disembark the train along with a contingent of uniformed Marines, to invade the township with goodwill and Christmas spirit. Santa and his entourage will also have some special surprises for the assembled audience and will also be handing out warm clothes such as gloves and coats for the kids.
The Christmas Train visit in Bainbridge usually lasts between 40 to 45 minutes. While those are enjoying Santa’s visit at the front of the train, Bainbridge Boy Scouts Troop 52 will be hard at work at the back of the train. The Marines unload the bags of toys, all labelled with the specific organization they are going to, into a pile outside of the train. Troop 52 will then sort through the pile of toys and expedite them to awaiting vehicles. Members of Troop 52 will also be directing traffic on the street as well as organizing the parking.
“This way the Marines can take it easy,” said Barnhart. “The boys have been doing this for a few years now, so they listen well to the Marines’ instructions and everything goes smoothly. Also thanks to the efforts of Troop 52, the police department also doesn’t have to worry about safety around the tracks or closing down the street, because the boy scouts take care of everything and have a troop member to direct traffic on the street.
“It’s nice what he (Barnhart) has going on down there; we don’t have that anywhere else along the route,” said Becker.
Bainbridge’s American Legion Post and Pine Ridge Groceries band together to make sure the Marines don’t go hungry for the rest of their journey across the state.
“We have been doing it for years because we think it’s a great way to help out a good cause,” said Pine Ridge’s Mike Kauffman. “Every year we make a bunch of subs and sell them at half price to the Legion.” Kauffman said he and the rest of the Pine Ridge staff plan to make 65 foot-longs for the Marines.
“They love it and they always remember their stop in Bainbridge because all they have are snacks and cold meals for their ride,” said Barnhart. “It’s all a wonderful community effort.”
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