Photo provided Junior Vice Commander Joe LaPorte, from left, Commander Eric Slater, Toys for Tots Eastern Ohio Coordinator Deborah Oberlin, former Cleveland Brown’s Star Anthony Griggs, and Senior Vice Commander Robert Blount celebrate Bellaire VFW donating $500 to the 2025 Toys for Tots drive at the Ohio Valley.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Toys for Tots 2025 drive at the Ohio Valley Mall received a $500 donation from the Bellaire VFW Charity Fund.

Bellaire VFW Commander Eric Slater lauded the ongoing program of the Marine Corps Reserves through the years.

“We very much appreciate the hard work and dedication of so many to help bring joy and comfort to so many in our area, and throughout the country,” Slater said. “The donation from our veterans, along with a collection of new toys, is part of the continuing mission of the VFW to better our community.”

He added that this has been part of a charitable giving by the post for many years and is widely supported by members.

The 10-county Eastern Ohio Chapter of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots provided more than 50,000 toys to over 8,400 disadvantaged children in 2024.

Helping in the 2025 drive is the Charity Fund of the Bellaire Post 626 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with a $500 donation along with toy collection boxes at the Neffs Rod and Gun Club; Gulla’s Lunch in Bellaire; and the VFW Post at 3154 Belmont Street in Bellaire.

The Marine Corps Toys for Tots operates year round providing for disadvantaged children and has served 314 million children with over 708 million gifts since 1947. Eastern Ohio is represented as part of the ten county chapter through Coordinator Deborah Oberlin of Dellroy in Carroll County.

A separate Toys for Tots chapter is in Wheeling.