This week marked the end of the sixth annual Mericle + Marine Corps Toys for Tots Challenge organized by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services to support the local U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys for Tots campaign. This year, 75 locations participated in the drive, filled 111 cartons, and raised $1,500.
More than 20 years ago, Mericle’s founder, Robert Mericle, donated warehouse space to the local Toys for Tots campaign and has continued to do so ever since. In 2013, Mericle heard the Marine Corps when it said it needed more toys to meet the growing demand for holiday gifts for disadvantaged families throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mericle invited its tenants to help by collecting toys and other gifts at their places of business.
Each year the Mericle + Marine Corps Toys for Tots Challenge continues to grow. This year, the campaign expanded to include Downtown Scranton. Mericle teamed up with DiscoverNEPA and the DiscoverNEPA Cycling Team to host a Charity Ride and toy collection in Downtown Scranton, which garnered 13 cartons of toys. In addition, Mericle hosted the fifth annual Semper Fly Challenge at Sky Zone Pittston in November. About 75 members of the Marine Corps and employees of Mericle and its tenants participated in the annual event to raise money and awareness for Toys for Tots.
About Mericle
Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s largest full-service commercial real estate company. Since 1985, the company has developed more than 23 million square feet of space in the region. Approximately 16,000 people work in buildings developed by Mericle.
About the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a non-profit organization authorized by the United States Marine Corps to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Toys for Tots provides joy and a message of hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy or book during the Christmas holiday season. For more information, visit toysfortots.org.