Marine's Toy drive manpower sapped by Iraq war-civilians heed the call

[underpants]

I heard this on NPR this morning. A good ending to a yet another sad result from this war.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Toys%20For%20Tots

CHICAGO -- Civilian volunteers have rushed in to help run the Marine Corps' annual Toys for Tots drive because the soldiers have their hands full in Iraq, making sure tens of thousands of gifts reach children around the country in time for Christmas.

Sgt. Rita O'Reilly said there were only about 28 Marines and reservists available to help sort the small mountains of toys that began accumulating at a Marine training center; about 400 were available last year.

"They were pouring in so much they filled up our voice mail," said O'Reilly, a reservist with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment in Chicago. "We wouldn't have succeeded without them."

Today, toys coming into the training center get sorted and sent with the help of a collection of volunteers - ranging from a 22-year-old woman with a stud in her tongue to a 63-year-old retiree who left the Marines years ago.

"It's awesome, it is so awesome," said Jen Doty, who was being helped by her 3 1/2-year-old daughter, Emily. "It makes the Marines happy knowing that people are stepping up when they're away."

[benburch]

1. Many Many of the Chicago volunteers...

were from the Leather Community.

[underpants]

2. Oh really?

They didn't happen to mention that.

[benburch]

3. Of course not.

We never get credit for our community service stuff. They would have to admit that we exist.