‘Toys for Tots’ marks its seventh year in the CNMI

IT&E CNMI and PHI Pharmacy are partnering with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Students of Northern Marianas College this holiday season to support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” campaign, a charitable program that provides toys to children in need during the holiday season. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Together with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Students of Northern Marianas College will be taking lead in the 2021 Toys for Tots Campaign, a charitable program that was founded by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve that provides toys to children in need during the holiday season.

“Every year, this charitable program continues to help those less fortunate children by providing them with a beacon of hope,” said Capt. A.J. Ramos, lead coordinator for Toys for Tots Guam and CNMI. “I am extremely grateful for the tremendous effort from all our partners as we continue to come together as a community and help those in need. We are consistently making this program better resulting in greater assistance to the community.”

Last year, despite the challenges of a pandemic, a total of 3,400 toys were distributed to children in need on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, exceeding the previous year by about 62% more toys. The success of the campaign would not be possible without the support from all of our business community partners, as well as our government and community partners.

“We are so happy to continue this wonderful partnership with the USMC’s Toys for Tots program. Now going on seven years’ strong, we have provided over 20,000 toys to our less fortunate children and families,” said SCC vice president Shayne Villanueva. “No child should be left without a gift during the holiday season and this is how we close the gap for the CNMI.”

This year’s official Toys for Tots collection site partners include IT&E CNMI, PHI Pharmacy (all locations), Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic, SDA School, First Hawaiian Bank (Gualo Rai and San Jose Branch), TakeCare Insurance, Assurance Brokers Inc. (Saipan), Crowne Plaza, Docomo Pacific CNMI, Bank Pacific, Triple J Motors Saipan, Bank of Guam (Garapan), Bridge Capital, Calvo’s Insurance, and DFS Saipan.

“ASNMC is excited to collaborate once again on this important project,” ASNMC president Alyssa Attao said. “These past couple of years have not been the easiest, so our officers are thrilled to be able to work on a project that benefits so many of our community members.”

To become a partner or for more information on Toys for Tots, visit www.saipanchamber.com/toysfortots or email saipantoysfortots@gmail.com. (PR)