Toys for Tots Honors Valpo Parks Effort

Joe Baczynski of the Marines Duneland Leathernecks Detachment #1056 presents a certificate of appreciation to Valpo Park Board President E. Ric Frataccia, right, and Helene Hammon, second from right. Hammon was the driving force in getting the word out about the Parks Department as a Toys for Tots drop site. Last season the Valpo Parks office collected two barrels of toys; this season they amassed ten barrels with gifts from the public and the parks staff. The Director of Valpo Parks John Seibert is on the left.


“It’s all for the kids.”  That’s what Joe Baczynski says when he talks about the Marines Duneland Leathernecks Detachment #1056’s annual Toys for Tots drive.
Baczynski is the Public Information Officer for the detachment, and also serves on the committee with Toys for Tots coordinator Jim Atkinson. Each year at Christmas time, the Leathernecks set up 100 drop boxes all around Porter County. The boxes are hopefully filled with new and unwrapped toys for kids to receive on Christmas Day. When the barrel is full, volunteers like Baczynski empty and replace them to be refilled by generous givers from around the area.

Helene Hammon, customer service coordinator of the Valparaiso Parks Department, echoed Baczynski’s sentiments of how special it is to contribute to this effort. She thanked the Park Board and Director John Seibert for allowing her to continue to be the point person to collect toy donations through the Parks office. As the mother of a five-year old, she can appreciate the joy kids get when they receive a new toy from Santa. She has also volunteered at the Toys for Tots distribution day where the toys are hand-selected and given to families in need for their children; she says it is a labor of love to be sure kids who might otherwise go without will have a new toy to open on their holiday.

This year in Porter County, with the help of people like Hammon and the people who donated toys at the Parks Department, the Leathernecks Toys for Tots drive was able to give toys to 1,444 children. Well done to the Leathernecks, Hammon, and to all who gave toys this year!