Rookie WR Jacoby Ford (12) and QB Jason Campbell will sign autographs in exchange for toy donation on December 13th. Photos by Tony Gonzales.
The Oakland Raiders have teamed up with the United States Marine Corps for their Toys for Tots program. Raiders QB Jason Campbell and rookie WR Jacoby Ford will meet and greet fans and sign autographs in exchange for new, unwrapped toys valued at $15 or more. Raiderettes Itza and Jennifer will be on hand as well.
The event is set for Monday, December 13th, from 6-8:00 p.m. at the Southland Mall Raider Image store in Hayward, Calif.
Also, U.S. Marines will be on hand to collect your donations at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday, December 19, as the Raiders host the Denver Broncos.
In addition to new, unwrapped toys, monetary donations will be accepted. Marines will be stationed at the West Side Plaza, near the BART entrance, and Gates A, B, C, and D, before and after the game.
According to their web site, the mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
Toys for Tots Began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.
From 1947 through 1979, Marines collected and distributed new and used toys. On Reserve drill weekends during October, November and December, Reserve Marines refurbished the used toys. From Christmas 1980 through the present, Marines have collected and distributed only new toys.
