'It's all about the toys'

The Native American Toys for Tots Program celebrated its 30th anniversary with a mass toy giveaway Monday as more than 3,000 children lined up in Veteran's Memorial Fieldhouse.

Lt. Col. Pete Tagni, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), was on hand with more than 50 volunteers from the Navajo Nation Police, Navajo Corrections, Navajo Rangers, U.S. Forestry, Navajo Fire Department and Navajo Pine Fire Department, as well as the Window Rock Unified School District.

"It's all about the toys," Tagni said as he addressed the audience, noting that the Native American toys program was delighted to celebrate 30 years with the community.

"It's going good but we only collected over 15,000 toys this year," said Ophelia Begay, senior correctional officer with the Navajo Nation Police and coordinator for the toys program.

"That's down from years before where we collected over 20,000 toys," she said. "This here is the first load that came from two vehicles. That's about over 3,000 toys then we have a semi-truck supplied by NHA (Navajo Housing Authority) bringing another trailer load of toys that the volunteers are unloading.

"With what's left we will distribute out to the kids with police officers," Begay said. "We've been collecting toys all year. Police officers already distributed toys to the community and we'll probably be doing that from now until New Year's Day."

As families entered the facility, parents were given slips for each child so the children could receive one toy each.

"This is the first time we've been to a Toys for Tots giveaway," said Colleen Gould, of Sawmill, Ariz., who had brought her three children - Joshua Gould, 11; Joey Gould, 8; and Jadyn Gould, 5.

"My auntie called us and invited us to come out," she said. "My kids are excited to be here. We've been away. We actually lived in Flagstaff. This helps a lot with Christmas shopping."

Local northern style singing group Callin' Eagle lent their drum and singing voices to celebrate the occasion.

At one point the group performed a round-dance song and got the audience involved.

"This here is the 30th anniversary for the Native American Toys for Tots program and I appreciate the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for what they have done in collecting toys," said Council Delegate Larry Anderson (Fort Defiance). "This has taken place on Navajo, Hopi, Apache and many other tribal nations throughout the Southwest."

Anderson admitted his favorite part of the celebration was watching children leave with a toy and a smile.

"That's the best part," he said.

Brothers Keishawn Nez, 8, and Keinin Nez, 5, took turns watching their year-old sister, Keianna Nez. They had traveled from their home in Navajo, N.M., with their mother Jamie Johnson.

"What I want is something plays a cassette tape," said Keishawn as Keinin noted that he wanted "a lego block set to build with."

For the past 30 years the Marines, along with the Arizona National Guard, and many volunteers from the tribes involved, used personal leave from their jobs to make the trip each year to California to collect toys and deliver them with semi-trucks.

Police officers on the reservation helped distribute an average of 68,000 toys to over 45,000 children over the past three years.

This is the first time it took place in Fort Defiance. Last year the giveaway was in Kykotsmovi, Ariz.

Previous locations include Window Rock, Shiprock, Chinle, Toyei, Tuba City, and Crownpoint. Other giveaways took place in San Carlos, Ariz., Whiteriver, Ariz., and Peach Springs, Ariz.

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