EM contractor employees at the Savannah River Site this year donated more than 20,000 toys and 600 bikes to the Toys for Tots campaign.
Office of Environmental Management
December 17, 2019
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AIKEN, S.C. – EM contractor employees at the Savannah River Site (SRS) this year donated more than 20,000 toys and 600 bikes to the Toys for Tots campaign, and gave 730 area children in need toys and clothing.
These contributions brought the total amount of toys donated to children through the site’s Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots and Salvation Army Angel Tree campaigns to more than 400,000 since 1991. Employees sponsored the 730 children through the Angel Tree Program.
“It warms my heart to see the expression of love for the children in our community,” said Danielle Elliott, chair of the SRS Toys for Tots effort. “It is truly an act of showing someone you care for them.”
Each year, at the close of the SRS Toys for Tots celebration, trucks full of presents leave the site in parade formation, led by Santa Claus and his helpers. The Toys for Tots drive has occurred each year at SRS since 1991 and the site’s annual Angel Tree campaign began in 2000.
“Christmas is a magical time for kids. Every child should experience the excitement of opening a gift on Christmas morning,” Elliott said. “Without the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, so many children wouldn’t be able to celebrate Christmas. This program also gives the person sponsoring an angel the personal experience of fulfilling the child’s Christmas wish, and knowing they are a part of their joy on Christmas morning.”
The annual giving campaigns are managed by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the SRS management and operations contractor. They also are supported by DOE-Savannah River; National Nuclear Security Administration-Savannah River; liquid waste contractor Savannah River Remediation; security contractor Centerra Group; and others through donations, including monetary contributions.