Edward Jones teams with Salvation Army for Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is coming back to Havre again for a second year, partnering with the Havre Salvation Army with hopes of continuing and growing in the years to come.

“Ultimately, what I wanted was to see the program stay in Havre,” Edward Jones Financial Advisor and organizer Jeniffer Tilleman said. “I think this is the best way to go about it.”

After the Havre Jaycees announced it would be moving away from its Community Toy Chest program, so it could focus on the organization’s other programs and projects, Tilleman worked last year to get the Toys for Tots in Havre to fill a need in the community.

Last year, Tilleman said, was very difficult, with her doing a lot of planning and organizing for the program. She said it went well, but she wants to see the program continue to grow, and this year is partnering with the Salvation Army to help accomplish that mission. 

Edward Jones has had a long relationship with the Toys for Tots program, but Edward Jones is not a non-profit and was limited in what it could do, she said. The Salvation Army has a lot more capabilities and will be able to facilitate collecting more inventory and toys locally for children, she added.

By partnering with the Salvation Army, the Toys for Tots program will be more sustainable, Tilleman said.

Toys for Tots collects toys, funds and other gifts for underprivileged children and families during the Holiday season. The program averages donating more than 18 million toys for more than 7 million children every year.

She said that although she is running into a number of similar complications as she did last year, she hopes this year will be bigger and better. She added that she is always looking for more businesses and organizations to collect toys for the program.

If anyone is interested in having a toy drop-off location or have any questions about how they can be more involved in the Toys for Tots program they can contact Tilleman at 265-5455.

People also can donate toys either at the Salvation Army or at the Edward Jones office at 304 Fourth St. in Havre from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

Tilleman said that they were able to help more than 30 children last year through the program, and she hopes they can help more this year. She added that she wanted to thank the community for the wonderful gifts last year, as well as Triple Dog Brewing Co., which held a fundraiser last year and will again this year to raise money for Toys for Tots.

Triple Dog Brewing Co. is hosting a Holiday Family Photo again this year to help raise money for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m., said Erin Garrity, who owns Triple Dog Brewing with her husband, Michael Garrity.

Erin Garrity said that for the event Triple Dog will be decorated for Christmas and families will be able to pose for a nice family photo for the holidays. Steve Helmbrecht of Helmbrecht Photography will be taking the photos at the event. Photos are $25 for a 5- to 10-minute photo session, she said. Garrity added that Helmbrecht will be donating 100 percent of the proceeds and his time to the Toys for Tots program. 

After the photos are taken, people should leave their email address with Helbrecht and photos will later be emailed to them, Garrity said.

Last year, the event raised almost $700, she added.

Everyone is welcome to the event, and all participating adults will also receive a free beer, she said.

Tilleman said that the money will be used to help purchase items and gifts for children that the program still needs and have not been donated.