Following the February 3rd train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the “controlled burn” of hazardous chemicals, many local parents wondered if it was safe for their kids to play with their toys that may have been exposed to the toxic contaminants. So The Marines Toys for Tots Foundation answered the concerns and started collecting toys in March to give away to children affected by the derailment.
This past Saturday afternoon, the foundation handed out around $40,000 worth of toys at the American Legion Hall in East Palestine. Local kids lined up and picked out up to three toys each. They got games, toy trucks, stuffed animals, and even shiny new bicycles to replace the toys they lost after the derailment and chemical burn.
Toys for Tots volunteer Fred Strawser hopes the toy giveaway will help lift the burden on the community a little bit and bring some cheer to the children. "Seeing these kids' faces light up is tremendous,” he says. “If you make one kid happy you’ve done your deed, I think."
Source: News 5 Cleveland