Inside First Bank, the site of the Malibu Navy League’s annual “Toys for Tots” community party, many large boxes were filled to the brim with donated toys last Thursday evening while partygoers enjoyed wine, live music and tasty treats. On hand to mix with the crowd were Marines from Ventura County Naval Base and Sea Cadets sponsored by the league.
John Payne, Malibu Navy League president, kicked off a short program by announcing that the Japanese attack on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor occurred exactly 76 years ago on that very day, December 7. “The attack sank or damaged nearly 20 ships, including eight battle ships and killed 109 Marines 2,403 people total,” he explained. “President Roosevelt said it was a date that would live in infamy and then Congress declared war on Japan.
“And today, Pearl Harbor is beefing up in case of attack from North Korea,” he noted in an interview. “Only 9/11 was more devastating than the attack on Pearl Harbor.”
The Malibu Navy League coordinates the Toys for Tots program in Malibu, as part of a national effort run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve since 1947 to distribute toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy gifts for Christmas.
Staff Sgt. Eric Williams and Sgt. Martinez from Weapons Company 2/23, both Marines based at the Ventura County Naval Base, were on hand at the event.
Williams is in charge of the crew that collects and distributes the toys donated in Malibu and surrounding areas. He reminded everyone that Ventura County is currently in a state of emergency due to the Thomas Fire (with the latest figures showing more than 700 homes burned and only 10 percent containment).
“The toys we collect tonight will go to those kids for Christmas and to the fire evacuation centers,” he announced. He indicated the Marines will most likely hand the toys out early to fire victims.
Williams noted that this is the 70th anniversary of the Toys for Tots program, and that the annual project begins by soliciting places to put the toy collection boxes in October. The toys are collected in December and taken to a warehouse, where the Marines sort them according to age group and oversee their distribution, turning some of them over to churches and businesses with lists of needy families.
The team of 11 Marines on the Toys for Tots mission from Ventura had collected 4,000 toys in their big blue vans earlier in the day from Westlake Village, Calabasas and the Ronald Reagan Library.
First Bank (located in Malibu Colony Plaza) is the official Toys for Tots collection point for Malibu, and a number of bank officers were on hand for the festivities.
“It’s for a great cause, because these children are really needy,” Vera Aynilian, financial services officer, said. “Imagine the gleam in their eyes and the joy when they receive a gift. We’re a family-owned bank, and we like hosting this and opening our doors to the community.”
Houri Kharazi, branch manager until her recent retirement, said the Toys for Tots project “was my passion” because “Christmas is all about kids.” Payne approached First Bank about doing it nine years ago, and Kharazi was happy for the opportunity to participate.
“We’ve had success every year,” she said.
Payne announced, “We’re hunting for a few new directors to enrich the Navy League Board of Directors for 2017.” He said Malibu Navy League membership is $55 per year, and no prior military service or affiliation is required. Besides social gatherings and Toys for Tots, the group hosts occasional Navy ship visits to Malibu, sponsors the USS Lake Champlain ship and local Sea Cadets. Anyone interested in joining can contact him at 310.456.3507.
The Navy League is a nonprofit civilian organization founded in 1902 dedicated to educating the public and elected officials about the importance of the nation’s sea services: Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S-flag Merchant Marines. The Navy League has approximately 46,000 members in more than 250 chapters.
Malibu Navy League thanked the following for their donations: Toy Crazy, PC Greens, Ollo, Dinah’s Fried Chicken, Malibu Estate Cielo Vineyards and Starbucks at Malibu Colony.
New, unwrapped toys can still be brought to the First Bank collection boxes until Dec. 15.
