LATHAM>> The U.S. Marines Toys For Tots drive has kicked off In the Greater Albany region, according to IntegraOptics, Inc. Logistics Coordinator Albert Roman Jr., the retired U.S. Marines gunnery sergeant who is coordinating the community outreach. "Now through December," he said, "the community can spread holiday cheer to children living in poverty in upstate New York by donating new, unwrapped toys and clothing at any Toys For Tots drop-off location."

For the second straight year, IntegraOptics, whose corporate headquarters facility is conveniently located at the shipping hub of Albany International Airport, is the logistics base for Toys For Tots.

Donations get funneled to IntegraOptics, where they are stored, and later packaged, sorted by age group, and bagged. Roman works with more than 200 local agencies to coordinate distribution of toys, clothing, and educational materials to more than 200,000 families in Greater Albany's 14-county region. 

"Toys For Tots happens because the community cares, deeply," Roman said. "Our dedicated crew of servicemen, retirees, IntegraOptics employees, and local volunteers are the living spirit of Christmas.” 

Six hundred drop-off locations around the Capital Region will be available to collect donations of an unwrapped new toy now through December 6, 2014. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the 2014 Toys For Tots campaign may email Roman at albanytoys4tots@gmail.com or call (518) 258-1958. 

"Last year's Greater Albany campaign raised more than $225,000," Roman said. "That was the most successful Toys For Tots upstate to date. He noted that $5,000 in coats alone was raised. "Toys For Tots collected more than 100,000,000 toys last year to make the holidays brighter for kids in need."

The 2013 Toys For Tots benefitted approximately 100,000 children in the upstate region. Roman noted that the goal of the 2014 campaign is to collect even more toys and raise even more cash to ensure that even more children awake Christmas morning to gifts in their stockings or under their tree.

"Toys For Tots' goal is to deliver a message of hope to children that they will cherish for their lifetime," the Glenview, N.Y., resident said. "So this is always an exciting time of year for our team. Every child deserves to receive a toy — and joy — at Christmastime. That’s what Toys For Tots is all about."

About U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots Foundation

The U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program. Now in its 67th year, Toys For Tots provides joy and a message of hope to economically disadvantaged children through the gift of a new toy during the Christmas holiday season. These gifts offer children recognition and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many of the gifts they provide, such as books, games, and sports equipment, make a significant contribution to the educational, social, and physical development of these children. In 2013, the program distributed gifts to 701 million children in 740 communities nationwide. The Toys For Tots Foundation relies on individual donations from the American public, as well as support from corporate sponsors. For more information, visitwww.toysfortots.org.

About IntegraOptics

IntegraOptics, Inc. is one of nation's fastest-growing fiber optic equipment providers and the #2 fastest-growing company in New York State's Capital Region, according to the 2014 Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest Growing Companies. In October 2013, IntegraOptics, under its predecessor name, won certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise(www.vip.vetbiz.gov), as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).

IntegraOptics develops and markets end-to-end, leading-edge fiber optic product solutions. It has earned national recognition for its industry standard optical transceivers that are compatible with virtually all network platforms. Its deep portfolio of high-performance optical equipment also includes passives, fiber jumpers and testing equipment. These products support carrier-level infrastructures of cable MSOs, TELCOs, RBOCs, and ISPs, as well as infrastructures of campus and community networks, research and education networks, and many other enterprises that that rely upon fiber optic backbones.

 

Headquartered at the transshipment hub of Albany International Airport in Latham, N.Y., IntegraOptics is renowned for its commitment to functionality and reliability, as well as its superlative products, comprehensive inventory, rapid turnaround, highly personalized service, and superbly customized solutions. As industry leaders, IntegraOptics delivers fiber optic components designed and tested to increase the capacity and improve performance of the networks it serves. Visit IntegraOptics on the Web at its new website:  IntegraOptics.