Toys for Tots receives $10K from Marines, Maryland Live!

Toys for Tots receives $10k from Marines, Maryland Live!

Inside the Toys for Tots warehouse near BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, volunteers were busy assembling bicycles and moving boxes of toys.

The group was a mixture of local residents and employees of Maryland Live! Casino. Spearheaded by Anne Arundel Councilman Pete Smith, D-Severn, on behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps, approximately 26,000 toys will be distributed to needy families in Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties, as well as Baltimore City, just in time for Christmas.

Smith has been in charge of the region's program since 2010.

"The biggest thing to come out of this program is the established relationships we've been able to cultivate," he said, adding that around 40 organizations now assist the cause.

Robert Norton is president of the Cordish Global Gaming Group, which runs the Hanover casino. Employees from its finance division helped to prepare boxes along security staff as they wore "Live! in the Community" T-shirts.

Before the toys are given to families for Christmas, Norton and the casino's staff had a surprise for Smith.

"The Marines were out the last couple of weekends, and we're excited to share that they've raised over $5,000," Norton said. "And in the spirit of our fifth year, we're going to go ahead and round that up with an additional $5,000."

The casino's staff revealed the oversized check for $10,000.

"We didn't expect that," Smith said, before the team took a ceremonial picture with their donation.