Join Us And Bring A Toy!

Spreading love and goodwill for over 350 miles, Metro Jacksonville is teaming up with the Florida East Coast Railway for their third annual Toys For Tot's Christmas Train.

Courtesy of the Florida East Coast Railway


The first Christmas train, glided down the tracks in 2010, as an effort of the Florida East Coast Railway and its employees to boost the United States Marine Corps' "Toys For Tot's" program. That first year the railroad's employees and happy citizens all along the line donated $20,000 dollars for new, unwrapped toys, and in 2011 that number surpassed $50,000.

This year the train is rolling our way. On Saturday, December 8, 2012, at 7:20 am, the train will arrive at Mussels Acres Road just northeast of the Avenues Walk Wal-Mart Store, near the intersection of Philips Highway and Southside Boulevard. After the Jacksonville stop, the train will head toward Miami, stopping at Sebastian Way, just off US-1 and a bit south of the county buildings in St. Augustine.

The Florida East Coast Railway's program allows employees to make a payroll deduction which is matched by the railroad on a dollar for dollar basis throughout the year.

This year we are told there will be some little Florida East Coast Railway Christmas Bears, lot's of balloons and of course Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. We'll let you decide if this is the real Santa, but we hear the railroad guys know him as 'CEO'.  

If your schedule permits, we are inviting all of our members and readers to join us at either of these stops.

The program rules say that the toy 1.) MUST BE NEW, and 2.) MUST BE UNWRAPPED. You can bring one or you can bring a whole truck full. Railroad employees and US Marines will be on hand to assist with your donation.

So come on out and get up close and personal with Santa, The Florida East Coast Railway, our Marines and some of the Metro Jacksonville crew. This is a great opportunity to teach a child the magic of giving for Christmas. Our goal is to push the number of toys way up and the cash donations well past the $80,000 mark for this year.

See you at the train.

YOUR METRO JACKSONVILLE CREW

Quote

JACKSONVILLE, FL, November 26, 2012 --The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the 2012 Toys for Tots Christmas Train operating between Jacksonville and Miami on Saturday, December 8, 2012.

FEC’s Christmas Train offers employees, their families, customers and suppliers an opportunity to contribute to the Toys for Tots program in the communities along the east coast of Florida.  In coordination with Toys for Tots, a contribution of toys will be delivered to representatives in eight Florida cities by Santa Claus, who will ride on the Christmas Train.  Representatives of the United States Marine Corps will be on hand to receive the donated toys and distribute them to needy children in the local communities.    

The Christmas Train will stop at the crossings at the locations listed below.   This has become a favored tradition of FEC employees in support of the communities where they live.

Here is the complete schedule:



Article by Robert Mann