INSIDE
: Area comes together to Fight Like a Belinger Volume 3, Issue 27 November 28, 2025
REFLECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY Total Raised: $105,676.25 Lead this Legacy SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE
Please remember us on Giving tuesday!
Please Donate
YOUR YOUR LOCALLY LOCALLY OWNED OWNED ANDAND OPERATED OPERATED NONPROFIT NONPROFIT NEWS NEWS SOURCE SOURCE YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Volunteers and donations sought for area Toys for Tots collection By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent It is the season of giving, and a beloved tradition for many is donating to Toys for Tots. Toys for Tots was initiated as a program in 1947 by the Marine Corps Reserve in Los Angeles, California. That first year they collected and distributed 5,000 gifts. In the 77 years since then, the program grew nationwide and extended its reach internationally in the aftermath of catastrophic events. In addition to its well-known holiday program, it has developed a year-round support program, including a literacy program. In 2022 it distributed 20.4 million toys, books and games. Its growth was aided by the creation of a logo and a theme song and boosted by the endorsement of Hollywood celebrities and political figures – in particular by First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. Benefit events sponsored by sports teams (New York Yankees in 1962), television networks, shows and businesses were also helpful. Until 1980, the Marines collected both new and used toys and spent three months refurbishing the used toys. But in 1980 they changed policy to collect only new toys.
As the program grew, the Marines recognized the need to establish a foundation to help with the funding and administration of their expanded programs. Specific programs were founded for Native Americans in 1980, for victims of hurricanes and floods in 1993, for families who lost members on Sept. 11, 2001, for families during COVID, and for Afghan refugee children in 2021. The foundation to support all the programs was established in 1991. Today both the national headquarters for the Toys for Tots program and the Toys for Tots Foundation are located in Quantico, Virginia. This rich history is the context for the Toys for Tots holiday program in Oceana County. Since 2001, toys have been collected, sorted and organized, and distributed from the Pentwater VFW Post. Post Commander Jim Carlson explains the process. “October 1 is the nationwide kickoff date, and December 18 is the final date for collection of toys. Collection boxes are stationed in schools, churches, businesses and other places located throughout the county. The boxes are brought to the VFW post.” Then there is a division of labor. Jen Freed gathers a team of volunteers to help her sort and organize all the toys by appropriate age group. “I need a team of 12-15 volunteers,” Freed reported. "Any-
one who would like to help with this task can call me at 231-578-2354.” On Dec. 10, Carlson and a team of volunteers begin the registration process. “We start in Ferry, Walkerville, Rothbury and New Era. Then we move to Shelby, Hart and Pentwater. The families have to register their names and the number and ages of the children for whom they need gifts. No questions are asked about income.” Families have two opportunities to register. The first round of registration is done by Dec. 14. A second round begins on Dec. 18 in the same order as the first round. This time gifts are distributed to the families who registered earlier. “We bring the gifts to the families, so no one misses out due to transportation issues. They come to the location of registration to pick up their gifts. Jen’s team puts gifts for each family in bags with the family’s name and we deliver them,” Carlson explained. “We average a distribution of 1,000-1,200 gifts to 400 families.” In terms of any changes he has noticed over 24 years, he shared, “We have seen a growing number of families with only one parent or children being raised by their grandparents.” Readers should note that all toys should be new and unwrapped when donated.
Registration information: • Mondays, Dec. 1 & 8 - Family Dollar, Walkerville, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Tuesdays, Dec. 2 & 9 - Dollar General, Rothbury, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Wednesdays, Dec. 3 & 10 - Ferry Community Center, Ferry, 10 a.m. to noon & Family Dollar, Hesperia, 1-3 p.m. • Thursday, Dec. 4 - Pentwater VFW, 2-6 p.m. • Friday, Dec. 5 - Pentwater VFW, 3-6 p.m. • Saturday, Dec. 6 - Pentwater VFW, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Thursday, Dec. 11 - Pentwater VFW, 2-6 p.m. • Friday, Dec. 12 - Pentwater VFW, 3-6 p.m. • Sat. Dec. 13 - Pentwater VFW, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Toy drop-off locations: Family Financial Credit Union, Oceana Eagles, Hairporte, 5/3 Bank, Huntington Bank, Open Hearth Grille, Dollar General, Gray & Company, Shelby State Bank, Hart VFW, Hansen Foods, Ivy Rehab, Family Dollar, Hart Public Schools, Michigan State Police Post, Golden Eatery, Hometown Pharmacy, Big Hart Brewery, Cherry Hill Supermarket, Woodland Farm Market, Images Salon, Shelby Public Schools, Stony Lake Store, Meyers Chevrolet, Pentwater Public Schools, Bella Designs Salon, Supergood, Pentwater Convenience Center, Port View, Rothbury Hardware, VanPatten General Store, Double JJ, Taylor Bridge Store, Hesperia American Legion and Walkerville Pubic Schools,. Please visit hart-mi.toysfortots.org. Checks may also be out to “Toys for Tots”, and mailed to Jim Carlson, 4093 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, MI 49420.
OCF distributes emergency funding to food pantries in response to rising need
BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307 PERMIT NO 62
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS
PAID
PRSRT STANDARD NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
In response to rapidly increasing food insecurity and ongoing uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefit distributions, the Oceana Community Foundation (OCF) has activated its Urgent Needs Fund to provide immediate financial support to food pantries and feeding programs
across Oceana County. A total of $28,000 has been deployed to help partners meet rising demand. Over the past several weeks, area food pantries have reported a significant rise in the number of families seeking assistance. United Way of the Lakeshore noted a 35% increase in households attending recent mobile food truck distributions. Trinity Community Food Pantry is now serving more than 300 families at each biweekly pantry event, and the Hesperia Community Food & Clothing Pantry has welcomed more than 20 new families in just the last 10 days. Last week, the OCF convened food pantry and food partners to discuss these trends and share updates on community needs. During the meeting, participants were introduced to the newly established Lakeshore Regional Food Hub, which is working to expand access to produce, rescued foods and lower-cost purchased items to strengthen the regional food system. In total, the foundation distributed $28,000 in emergency support to
Trustee Frank Arvai, CEO Tammy Carey, Trustee Lucy Ordoobadi and Program Officer Hannah Naples local partners, including: certain programs and exCommunity Dinners at panded the overall pool of Centenary United Meth- dollars distributed. odist Church, Hesperia Each pantry has been Community Food and notified of its allocation, Clothing Pantry, First and funds are being reBaptist Church Pentwa- leased immediately so ter, New Hope Commu- partners can continue nity Church Food Pantry, responding to increased Oceana County Council demand for food and eson Aging, Oceana Hispan- sential supplies. ic Center, Rothbury Community Church Helping Hands Food Pantry, Bread of Life/St. Gregory's Catholic Church Food Pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry and Baby Pantry. Allocation amounts were determined based on the number of families, meals or individuals served at each site to ensure an equitable approach that reflects community reach and demand. Additional donor contributions allowed for increased support to
Local food pantries have expressed deep appreciation for the foundation’s rapid response grants during this period of heightened need. “Wow, thank you so much — it will go to good use. Our numbers increased 30%, and people were so grateful we were there. So many new faces with urgent needs. The big concern was the loss of SNAP benefits; many didn’t know where to turn. Again and again, we heard, ‘Thank you so much,’” shared Kaye Schmidt of the Rothbury Helping Hands Food Pantry. The OCF remains committed to strength-
ening the well-being of this community by responding quickly to urgent needs and supporting the organizations that serve Oceana County residents every day. Community members who wish to help support this work can make a gift to the Urgent Needs Fund, which enables the foundation to quickly respond to pressing basic and emergency needs as they arise throughout Oceana County. Gifts can be made online via our www.oceanafoundation. org or by mailing a check to Oceana Community Foundation, P.O. Box 902, Pentwater, MI 49449.