LINC helps U.S. Marines go for 52,000 toys in KC holiday distribution

The numbers — like Kansas City’s generosity and love — keep growing. This holiday season the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots operation in the Kansas City area is aiming to distribute more than 52,000 toys. That’s a 30% increase since LINC first started helping the Marines in the monumental task five years ago.

Operation Toys for Tots: LINC, U.S. Marine Corps spread holiday cheer

It’s not a simple operation, bagging up 200 toys for every LINC Caring Communities site. But the U.S. Marine Corps and LINC managed it again, packing the big red sacks of toys into an assortment of LINC staff’s pickups, vans, SUVs and one fully loaded U-Haul to cap off another Toys for Tots mission.

'A huge help': LINC's team on the job as 'Toys for Tots' aims to reach 50,000 KC-area kids

It’s pretty clear now. The U.S. Marines’ massive Toys for Tots gift-giving project and all its big red bags blends beautifully with LINC blue. See what it takes to sort, bag, tag and route 50,000 toys.

Watch: LINC reinforcements help U.S. Marines in 'Toys for Tots' overload

There was a problem. The days to Christmas were counting down. It looked like a mountainous proportion of the some 40,000 toys the Kansas City Marines’ Toys for Tots collect each year was still piled on the vast floor. LINC’s Carl Wade asked: Do you need volunteers?

Ready to serve joy: LINC embraces Toys for Tots mission

The U-Haul truck is reserved and LINC’s Carl Wade is standing by, awaiting orders from the U.S. Marines. The mission: Help the Corps deliver the gifts of the Marine Toys for Tots program to families in LINC’s Caring Communities.