Toys for Tots volunteers included, left to right, Officer Renita Curley, Albert Bia, Virginia Lee, Loretta Benally, Francina Bia, Valerie Benally, Juan Curley III, Deshawn Ashley, Franlandria Bia, Alton Halwood, Calvin Jones, Brenna Yazzie and Deraldine Yazzie.









W

ith the country still in the grip of economic recession, Michael Lee feared it would be an even grimmer-than-usual Christmas for many Native American children in Arizona.

Lee, the Navajo Nation Police officer who coordinates Native American Toys for Tots, was almost afraid to hit up the local businesses in Chinle, his usual donors.

To his surprise, he was not the only one who was worried about the kids this year. The U.S. Marine Reserve, Toys for Tots main sponsor, doubled their efforts to collect new toys, and their warehouses were full to bursting.

"I'm pretty confident no Native child will have to go without a toy this year," Lee said.

However, that wave of goodwill created a problem: There was no space to store all the toys, and police vehicles would not suffice to cart them all from storage in Laughlin, Nev., to Chinle, whence they will be distributed to needy families.

The local U-Haul rental agency, Hi-Tech Windshield and U-Haul, stepped in to fill the void.

"They came to our need without any hesitation to help with toy delivery from Laughlin," Lee said.

As usual, the employees of the local Holiday Inn reached deep into their pockets and came up with a substantial monetary donation for gas and other costs.

When there was no place to store all the toys in Chinle, Mesa View Elementary School volunteered a vacant classroom, and Navajo Transit lent some space in their garage.

Chinle Unified School District lent some equipment for unloading and loading all those boxes.

An army of volunteers, whom Lee calls his "elves," stepped forward to sort and wrap.

Far from the dismal scenario Lee had envisioned, "I really think this may be our best year ever for Toys for Tots," he said. "Everyone who helped, I give them my deepest appreciation and wish them a wonderful and joyful holiday."

His volunteers, of course, cannot imagine a more joyful holiday than assuring a bountiful Christmas to a needy child.

With all those toys, there's always room for more elves, and if you'd like to join this winning team, call Lee at the Chinle Police District, 928-674-2111.

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