By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Not just the children cheered as more than 1,500 toys were delivered in 26 boxes to the Niles Salvation Army Monday.
Jan Nowak, social service director for the Salvation Army was also excited to see all the toys and know how happy the children will be.
The local Salvation Army is providing toys and food for more than 200 families in Berrien and Cass counties this year.
This is the 60th year of the Marine's Toys for Tots campaign.
The toys will be distributed the week of Dec. 18 through Dec. 22, for children from newborn to age 16 in the Toy Shop at the Niles Salvation Army location.
"We will set up stations for the age groups and kids get to go shopping," explained Capt. Tracey Walters of the Salvation Army.
"We have been really blessed this year. We have many new volunteers. The Marines lifted these huge boxes and brought them into our basement. It was just awesome," Walters added.
Sign-ups for those receiving the toys were done earlier in the fall.
"We strive to make sure children get clothes, books, a game, large gifts and stuffed animals. We hope children end up with at least 10 to 12 things each," she added.
"This is very rewarding, especially to see all of the smiles on everyone's face when we opened the doors of the truck," said First Sgt. Bob Rhodes, who has been involved with the program for six years.
One issue this year was all the recent toy recalls.
The Marines went through all of the toys at the warehouse in South Bend, Ind.
Only a small portion of the toys were on the recall list, said Rhodes.
"The Marines went through the toys. We will do the best we can to check them, but parents also need to be aware. Any recalled toys found will be replaced with another toy, said Walters.