For 12-27-92 
Boycott Baseball? Ok, Fine -- But You Go First 
It Doesn't Seem So Long Ago That Kirby Puckett Created A Fuss By Becoming The 
First Baseball Player To Collect A $3 Million Salary.

What About 
Those Raises?

By JIMMY MASS; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Monday, December 21, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





WYOMING -- Hundreds of needy parents braved the cold weather for hours
Friday to provide their children with Christmas gifts, compliments of the Toys
for Tots program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The children weren't the only ones getting something special for Christmas,
organizers said. The parents did, too, knowing they'd be able to see their
children rip wrapping paper off their presents and hear the laughter and joy
in their voices. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Angie Reese, of Edwardsville, said she hoped to get a tricycle for her
17-month-old daughter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "She'll be very happy," Reese said, smiling. "Her eyes will get wide with
excitement." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More than dreams of toys and peppermint sticks filled the U.S. Marine Corps
Reserves training center in Wyoming. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For example, listen to Larry Huffman, of Tunkhannock, who has an
18-month-old son and a three-year-old daughter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's going to give them a little bit extra, more than we can afford,
because I've been laid off," Huffman said. "So that they will enjoy a little
more, and they will think more of me." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's not easy for parents to accept help, but they reluctantly do, said a
Toys for Tots volunteer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They're swallowing a lot of pride," said First Sgt. Hank Nothen, a Marine
volunteer. "And it's taking a lot for people to come down here and stand
outside in the cold." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the rewards overcome the negatives associated with receiving help,
according to one woman awaiting her turn in line. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think it's a terrific thing," said the unidentified Kingston woman. "You
get so numb (from the cold) that you don't care anymore, but you love your
children, so you come." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The line for toys began to form outside the center as early as 7 a.m.
Friday, said Gunnery Sgt. Donald Funk, the program coordinator. About 1,500
people received gifts Friday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sometimes organizers can't provide gifts to every needy family, who are
qualified to receive Toys for Tots presents if they show proof they receive
government assistance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Funk said organizers wish they could help everyone, because they don't
enjoy turning people away. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It feels very bad, very disappointing," said Funk. "It hurts the kids more
then it hurts the parents." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This year, no one was turned away, although there was some doubt late this
week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By Thursday, the Marines were 7,000 toys shy of their goal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A last-minute surge of stories by area newspapers and television stations
help put the Marines over their goal of 55,000 toys, said Cpl. James Kepler. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Channels 22 and 28 began doing on-air promotions for Toys for Tots, and
local newspapers reported the need for more toys. The flow of toys began to
flood in Thursday night and Friday morning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're picking up toys now," said Funk. "It all came in at the end." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Channel 28 and 22 got about 60,000 toys, Kepler said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We just did it for the kids," said Greg Stetson, director of operations at
WBRE-TV, Channel 28. "We just collected from any person that could bring
donations down to the station." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They also collected toys from a retirement center, a retail store and
several elementary schools throughout the area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We've collected toys for the Toys for Tots program through our on-air
campaign for the past seven years," said Linda Wallace, public relations
director for WYOU-TV, Channel 22. "That's why we're called the Toys for Tots
station." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 With the unexpected bonanza of toys, the Marines now plan to deliver the
leftover toys to various charitable agencies in the area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 think it's a terrific thing. You get so numb (from the cold) that you don't
care anymore, but you love your children, so you come. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unidentified Kingston woman &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Among those waiting to receive a toy from the Toys for Tots program

Dec. 19, 1992 Toys For Tots For Page 3a 
Needy Parents Get In Line So Kids Can Have A Merrier Christmas 
Toys For Tots Program Was Able 
To Hand Out Toys For Children Who Would 
Otherwise Not Get Them, Thanks To A Surge Of Last-minute Donations

Dec. 19, 1992 Toys For Tots For Page 3a Needy Parents Get In Line So Kids Can Have A Merrier Christmas Toys For Tots Program Was Able To Hand Out Toys For Children Who Would Otherwise Not Get Them, Thanks To A Surge Of Last-minute Donations