Members of the Marine Corps League have been busy playing Santa. With less than a week until Christmas, the Toys for Tots program is winding down.
Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach is one of 330 drop off points in Horry County for this years toy drive. Community members and aquarium visitors dropped more than 1,700 toys and League members picked them up Tuesday morning.
The toys are then given to several churches and local organizations like Help 4 Kids. The Marine Corps League hopes every child in need will receive a toy for Christmas through the Toys for Tots drive.
Although donations are down this year, one local League member says the Horry County community has a big heart and always pulls through. "We just keep our fingers crossed and hope that at the end of the day that those boxes are full. We're in a tough economy right now, but the good in the people is coming out," John Kovalcik with the Marine Corps League said.
Toys for Tots started 63 years ago and an estimated 339,000,000 needy kids have benefited from the program.