Deploy the Toys
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| Donated Toys awaiting sorting and processing |
During July many people in this area are looking into vacation rentals and considering all of the features and potential drawbacks. Is it close to the beach? How is the view? Are there enough beds? For Art Enos, Commandant of the Burlington Detachment, July marks the start of his annual search for viable warehouse space for the Toys for Tots Program. Is it close enough to major highways? Are there loading docks that can handle a variety of vehicles? Is there at least 35000 square feet and satisfactory bathroom facilities for men and women? As the Middlesex and Essex County coordinator for The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Enos’s Christmas season starts mid-summer with the need to get all of the details into place for the annual campaign. From its start in 1947, Toys for Tots has grown to be a major undertaking that this year resulted in collecting, storing, and distributing toys totaling $2.5 Million in value to be distributed to 60,000 children within the Middlesex and Essex Counties.. In truth, that is a reduced level from prior years. With the Reserves still facing large scale deployment, much of the legwork falls to the Marine Corps League.
A native of Brockton, Art did not start out intending to be
pseudo-Santa Claus. As a youth, he had
moved to Cambridge. In 1958, when a
friend went to talk to the Marine Corps Recruiter, Art accompanied him and
ultimately liked what he heard. Sworn
into the Corps on Boston Common by legendary General Alexander Vandegrift, Enos
was first assigned as a loader in a tank battalion. Positioned in a seat in bottom of the hull of
the tank with live ammunition on one side and fuel tanks on the other, he knew
early on that this was not his choice for a long term assignment. When the opportunity to transfer into Marine
Corps Intelligence arose, Art was quick to take it up. After training in decoding and encoding Cryptic
message traffic, he joined TUSLOG Detachment 28 in Turkey where accommodations
were somewhat sparse but a definite step up from the belly of a tank. Most of his duty stations were on Air Force Bases
where he worked in joint services teams.
In 1964, Art Enos returned to the Cambridge area. With a friend he got started in the ambulance
business. At that time, it was common
for ambulance and funeral services to be jointly operated. Art would continue in the business for 30
plus years, relocating to Burlington in the interim. In the early 80’s, Art became aware of the
Marine Corps League through friends.
While still actively engaged in running a business full time, he was
unable to commit to joining. He did
participate as a non-member helping out with events and fund raising. He was
active in Toys for Tots for 10 years before he ultimately joined the MCL., signing
on immediately as a Life Member in 1984.
Having been involved in arranging drop-off points,
collecting toys, and delivering to the warehouse, Art developed a good
relationship with the Marine Corps I+I Staff out of Ft. Devens who ran the
program. In 2000, he took on the role
of managing the civilian participants.
This led to increased involvement and exposure and appointment as
co-coordinator with the Marines of Ft. Devens. Art also was working with Frank
Gillen who was the Department of Ma. Marine Corps League Toys for Tots chairman. When Frank Gillen passed away in 2010, Art
took over the program. Today, Art’s Toy
for Tots area includes 88 towns and a complex network of arrangement s and
logistics.
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| Art Enos with corporate donors |
In the past, the program operated out of multiple warehouses,
with volunteers delivering toys directly from pickup points to the warehouses. By considering a number of variables, Art has
found that using one, well placed warehouse is a more practical solution. By insuring that the selected facility is
strategically located near appropriate highways and transportation systems, it
becomes logistically smoother for volunteers and recipient agencies to access
the facility .Art also recognized the importance of the PODS containers and in
strategically placing PODS in all areas close to the collection areas and
personnel. As many of the volunteers
are retired and the mix of females has increased, it is important that the
restroom facilities be adequate for both genders and that parking and access
are satisfactory. A minimum of 35,000
square feet is required. Loading docks
must be available that can handle a variety of vehicles. The storage space must be close to the
loading and shipping areas. Art learned
that requirement first hand after dealing with a facility in Andover that
required a lengthy trip up and down corridors and stairs to get from the
loading area to the storage area.
Art maintains active surveillance, beginning in July, to
identify appropriate warehouse space.
Over the years, he has developed good relationships with area commercial
real estate brokers who function as intermediaries between Art and building
owners. This can involve looking at as
many as 50-60 buildings that need to be narrowed down to the dozen or so
realistic finalists. From there, the
task is to convince the owners to donate the space. Art is able to point out the program’s
reputation for always leaving the building in better shape than when they went
in. At the end of the campaign, a team
of Marines conducts a thorough field day to fully clean the building for return
to the owner. Art recalled one facility
that was trash and garbage filled when he took it over. Seeing rodents in the area, the Toys for Tots
team arranged for a Bobcat loader to push everything into one pile. Next the fire department was recruited to
thoroughly wash down the facility and the pile.
In the end, the trash pile was removed, complete with garbage and
rodents
The warehouse is one component of Toys for Tots. In addition
to persuading landlords to donate space, Art has been instrumental in
convincing a large network of contacts to donate equipment and services that
sustain the program. All of the necessary desks, tables, chairs,
computers and associated equipment have been donated. Six pallet lifters that facilitate moving
toys throughout the warehouse in different stages of processing have been
donated. Art recalled making a call to a
badge and ID company during one campaign.
As volunteers need badges and lanyard throughout the effort, he was able
to arrange donation of those supplies.
At another company, he was able to arrange donation of 20 cases totaling
3000 large plastic bags of sufficient thickness to handle toy donations and
sometimes rough handling. Portable
storage pods have since eliminated the need for donations to be brought
directly to the warehouse. Each year as
many as 50 pods are donated for use during the campaign. Half of the many boxes that are placed for
donations are donated. In his 30 years
of involvement in the Toys for Tots Program, Art Enos has developed a lot of
contacts and he is not reluctant to reach out to others for services and
monetary donations.
In the warehouse, the major portion of sorting and packing
is performed by volunteers from the Gillette Retirees Association. This came about in a conversation between Art
and a neighbor about the retirees’ need for service projects that would have
flexible working hours. This connection
has grown over the years and now includes over 100 retirees who volunteer throughout
the months of November, December and January.
Out in the field, Art relies on 34 Zone Managers to coordinate the
activity in defined areas. Zone Managers
are both civilians and Marine Corps League members who handle communications
and scheduling for designated areas. The
State Police and local Police and Fire Departments are examples of other
organizations that are active. Art is
constantly on the lookout for new zone managers. The core labor is the Marines and others who
arrange donation points and collect the toys.
This effort is conducted in a tight timeframe because reality dictates
that toys needs to be received, sorted, and processed prior to December 20 or
put into storage for next year.
Agencies that are receiving toys often know by August what
they will need. In larger areas, like
Lowell and Lawrence, there are established agencies that have been connected
with Toys for Tots for a long time. The
MA Department of Children and Families calls for 40,000 toys alone. In addition to the agency needs, individuals
can request toys on-line between October 1 and November 15. All
requests are tracked on spreadsheets that outline the age, gender, and quantity
of toys that are desired for a given agency.
The sorting and packing is set up to allow volunteers to pick toys
quickly and assemble them into the appropriate packing point for distribution. Volunteers handle, sort and pack approximately
5000 toys in a 6/8 hour work schedule.
Care is taken to be sure that distribution is evenly distributed in the
same amounts from agencies to the families in need. The system has evolved to be a very smooth
operation that works well. In a move
toward continuous improvement, Art is working to consolidate the agency inputs
to reduce administration and increase efficiency.
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| Art Enos receiving commendation from the Town of Burlington |
On Christmas morning in a large portion of Massachusetts,
there are a few moments of surprise and joy as children wake up and receive
gifts that come from Toys for Tots. From
the generous action of donors and merchants who agree to host donation points,
to the contribution of the volunteers who collect the toys that fill the pods,
to the organization and effort of the warehouse volunteers, the success of the
Toys for Tots is an example of what a committed leader and few Marines can
accomplish. At a recent Massachusetts State MCL Department meeting, Art Enos expressed
his thanks and pride at what the Marine Corps League accomplished this
year. We share your pride, Art and
appreciate your leadership.
Keeping it Local
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| Blackstone Valley Marines Volunteers |
The Blackstone Valley is an area in South Central
Massachusetts that is historically known for the textile mills that were
started on the waterway that passes through the area. Today that history is observed in the Blackstone
Valley National Corridor, established by Congress on November 10, 1986. The region is well known for recreational
activities like hiking and bicycling as well as for the scenic towns that are
found there.
Another trait of the Blackstone Valley is a close knit
feeling and a desire to take care of their own. In 1995, Bryce Williams an area resident
and Korean War Era veteran of the Marine Corps took the steps to organize a
Marine Corps League Detachment in the Blackstone Valley. With an initial cadre of eighteen members,
Williams pursued and obtained a charter and the detachment was officially
launched on July 28, 1995. Regrettably,
Bryce Williams, the founder and first Commandant passed away less than a month
later. His spirit is still present in
Detachment 911 as they continue the outreach that often defines the Marine
Corps League.
With an eye toward focusing their efforts to benefit the
eleven towns in the local area, Detachment 911 has maintained the effort to
insure that children will have toys on Christmas that has been a hallmark of
the Marine Corps Reserve and the Marine Corps League. Operating under the name “Toys for Kids and
Teens”, Detachment 911 has tailored their program to address local need
specifically. Detachment Adjutant
William Audette , a veteran of Marine Corps who served as a radio operator in 1st
Radio Bn, including operations in Viet Nam in 1969 and 1970, described the
program as essentially identical to Toys
for Tots, but operating on a smaller
scale and locally focused.
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| Toys donated to the Toys for Children and Teens Program |
The most recent campaign was conducted with 26 volunteers,
representing veterans from all services and civilians. With space donated by a local self-storage
company in Uxbridge, volunteers place donation boxes at local facilities. In
addition, they coordinate activities that raise donations of funds, toys and
gift certificates. Local high school
students participate in shopping parties.
Volunteers bring donated toys and materials directly to the storage facility
where they are staged for distribution.
An inactive American Legion building is currently used as
the distribution center. Volunteers
deliver and sort the toys into various categories of age and gender. Families who are in need of toys are able
to come to the distribution center to receive donated toys. While there are no forms required, after
providing proof of local residency, recipients are accompanied by a volunteer
to review and pick out suitable toys. In
addition, the program coordinates with local churches and civic groups to assist
in identifying families that may need donations of toys or gift
certificates. Volunteers are able to
interact with recipients to help get the most appropriate donation for the age
and gender of the child. They are able
to pay special attention to the teenage recipients where it can be more
complicated to get the right thing.
Following the same basic process as the larger Toys for Tots
Program, the Blackstone Valley Detachment 911 Toys for Kids and Teens Program
is able to address the Christmas needs of local residents with reduced administration
and paperwork. This year, 6000 new toys
were collected and 5500 were distributed.
With donated storage space, the remainder will be held for distribution
next year.
Bill Audette has been a member of Detachment 911 for the
past 6 years, having been introduced to it by his brother in law Dan Foley who
was a charter member. As a member of
the detachment leadership team, he is instrumental in continuing the vision of
Bryce Williams who did not have much opportunity to participate in the
detachment that he founded. Audette and
his fellow Marines are actively working to maintain strong outreach and keeping
it local.
Massachusetts Marine Corps League Marines of the Year
Each year, Marine Corps League Detachments select a member to be Marine of the Year. In this space, we will recognize those Marines who have been chosen by their peers as having gone the extra mile in exemplifying the ideals of the Marine Corps. |
| Outgoing 1st Lt. Brian McPhillips Metro South Detachment #1115 Marine of The Year Jack Hines |
After boot camp, he was trained as an artilleryman. At his first duty station with the 11th
Marines in Viet Name, he was assigned to the 4.2 inch mortars platoon. Assigned to Hill 55, about 15 miles south of
Da Nang, Hines had access to reasonable living quarters and a good mess
hall. As the 11th Marines
provided artillery support to the 1st Marine Division in the region,
he also worked on a rotation schedule that involved forward deployments for two
week periods with two mortars at a time.
The 4.2 inch mortar is a well-established work horse weapon for the
Marine Corps but it is not a lightweight. Hauling mortar plates and ammunition is not
an easy task. Nonetheless, Jack was able to get through his
tour relatively unscathed and returned stateside.
Back in the states, Hines
was assigned to a NATO duty
station in Norfolk, VA. With a large
presence of high ranking officers and VIP’s, the uniform of the day was dress
blues with medals. After a tour in Viet
Nam, many have taken this as a plush assignment that should be held
dearly. In the interim, Jack’s brother
had joined the Army and was facing deployment to Viet Nam. In 1969, in order to keep his brother from
having to go, Jack volunteered to return to Viet Nam, knowing that only one
brother would be sent. After a brief stop
in Okinawa, he was assigned to 12th Marines, the deployed in the
area around Con Thien. With extensive
views of the surrounding area, Con Thien was strategically well suited for
artillery and mortars. Following Con
Thien, Jack returned to Okinawa for 4 months prior to returning to the states
for release from active duty.
Coming back to Mansfield, Jack took up auto mechanics as a
career, having studied that in high school.
For 45 years, he worked in a number of General Motors dealerships prior
to his retirement. In his civilian life,
he was active in the DAV and the VFW. About
3 years ago, be became aware of the Marine Corps League and was enthused by the
opportunity to be part of an organization that was comprised of all Marines and
Corpsmen. In a short time, he became
involved as the paymaster. He was active
in the color guard and has been part of numerous committees as time has
allowed.
Jack Hines has been a prolific fund raiser as a Marine Corps
League member. Coordinating the efforts
of detachment members to staff the Rose Campaign, he has worked to build
relationships at local stores where he knows the success rate is high. Maintaining a steady presence through the
weekend, Jack and his colleagues have raised $5,000 at 3 stores. He recalled one year when the roses were not
available through the Marine Corps League and credits Warren Griffin with coming
up with a quick solution.
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| Jack Hines (right) helping at detachment golf tournament. |
Hines was especially successful in his tenure as Junior Vice
Commandant. In a role that focuses on
increasing membership, his approach was to “go where the Marines are.” Jack would go back to the DAV and VFW posts
to contact Marines who are members there.
He made a point of talking to other Junior Vice Commandants to find out
what was working for them. Jack would
read the Marine Corps League magazine, “Semper Fi”, to get pointers and contacts. He recalls that current Massachusetts State
Commandant Warren Griffin and Mike Chouinard, another state leader were helpful
contacts. At one point he called the
National Junior Vice Commandant to ask advice.
Jack’s commitment and persistence resulted in noteworthy increase in
membership for the detachment. In addition to his personal efforts, Jack
attributes the overall visible presence of the detachment as a key recruiting
tool. When the public sees squared away
Marines in uniform at parades, wakes and other events, they will be more
amenable to joining. As frequently as
time allows, Jack attends these events, working to increase visibility and
recruiting by example.
Jack is also active in the Military Order of Devil Dogs, a
Marine Corps League activity. As the
Quartermaster, he maintains and sells an inventory of pins and merchandise to
assist in fundraising. Meeting monthly,
the Devil Dogs have been strong fundraisers, with approximately $35,000 being
raised. A portion of this is small fines
that are paid by members for transgressions against the fun and honor
activities of the organization.
While his stint as Marine of the Year is completed, Jack
Hines has not stopped contributing. He has been instrumental in establishing a
scholarship for youth in Easton with family ties to the Marine Corps. The committee recently screened eleven
candidates to identify this year’s recipient.
This is the second year that the scholarship has been awarded. As Jack
Hines sees it, the scholarship continues on as a testimony that the 1st
Lieutenant Brian McPhillips Metro South Detachment #1115 is more than a bunch
of guys that rent the VFW hall. The
effort and commitment that Jack Hines has shown warrants the award of Marine of
the Year and is the example that the Marine Corps League hopes to
demonstrate. We are pleased to join
Detachment Commandant Rik Coffman and the Marines of 1st Lieutenant
Brian McPhillips Metro South Detachment #1115 in saluting Jack Hines.
