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Chester County Press

Santa gets assistance from the Marines

12/15/2014 10:56AM ● By J. Chambless

From left: Corporal James Turk, Ken Antes, Bill Dolbin, Corporal Eric Bierstine, William Kirwin and Corporal David Ross pick up Toys for Tots donations on Saturday in Kennett Square.


The U.S. Marines gave Santa a helping hand at the Kennett Square VFW Post 5467 on Sunday afternoon.

The VFW has been a collection point for the annual Toys for Tots nationwide campaign that distributes toys to needy families for Christmas. The box was ready for pickup on Sunday, so Corporal James Turk, in full uniform, arrived to transfer the gifts.

Also involved in the collection were William Kirwin, Ken Antes and Bill Dolbin of the Leathernecks Nation Motorcycle Club, a group made up of honorably discharged Marines that meets at the Kennett Square VFW. Two young Corporals, Eric Bierstine and David Ross, were on hand as well. The two young Marines are stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and they will be splitting the toy collection between Kennett Square and their own unit. Ross is a Unionville High School grad, and a firefighter with the Kennett Fire Company.

"This is really the VFW's event," Kirwin said on Sunday. "They asked us if we could organize something to get these toys to the kids. The Marines have been doing Toys for Tots for a long time, so we're just helping out in our community. We're honored to be a part of it."

The Leathernecks were also part of the annual Wreath Run in Oxford on Saturday, Kirwin said. "It was part of Wreaths Across America. As part of that, wreaths are put on the graves of veterans, all around the country, so they're not forgotten," he said. "It was a huge success. Just because you get out of the Marine Corps doesn't mean you stop helping people."

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, e-mail [email protected].

Slug: Toys for Tots donation

Photo by John Chambless

Toys 004

From left: Corporal James Turk, Ken Antes, Bill Dolbin, Corporal Eric Bierstine, William Kirwin and Corporal David Ross pick up Toys for Tots donations on Saturday in Kennett Square.