Program Chairman James Lynch, Marine Corps members Sergeant Ulises Tapia and Gunnery Sergeant Miguel Guzman, and Kiwanis member Adam Portney. — Photos courtesy of Somerville Kiwanis Club

On Thursday, December 11, Somerville Kiwanis Club members were joined by our good friends from the Somerville Rotary Club and Somerville Lions Club for our annual Toys For Tots luncheon meeting at the Burren Restaurant in Davis Square. Two members of the Marine Corps joined us for this special tri-club meeting.

Everyone attending brought unwrapped toys for donating to the United States Marine Corps, Toys For Tots program. In addition to more than two hundred fifty new, unwrapped toys, the Marines were presented with a donation to Toys for Tots of $2,500 from Middlesex Federal Savings Bank, which was presented by Vice President Adam Portney, who is also s Somerville Kiwanis member. The Toys for Tots drive is in addition to more than 200 toys that were delivered to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) Head Start program for children of low-income families.

Our meeting began with, as always, the pledge of allegiance and opening prayer, followed by a wonderful lunch and a brief thank you message from Gunnery Sergeant Miguel Guzman.

We also held our first Lucky K drawing of this administrative year, which raises funds for our annual scholarship program. Program Chair Past President Charlie Ball thanked everyone for their support of the Lucky K program, especially Past President and Distinguished Secretary Emeritus Bob Nissenbaum, who every year sells more than 150 tickets in support of this program.

An assortment of the more than 250 toys donated by members of the three service clubs to the Toys for Tots Program.

At the end of the meeting, the members loaded the Marine’s van with all of the donated toys, which will make Christmas a little happier for children in need in our area. President Tom Austin and Co-President Dawn Austin thanked the Kiwanis members and our Lions and Rotary Club friends for their support, and special thanks to today’s Marine guests, Sergeant Ulises Tapia and Gunnery Sergeant Miguel Guzman, who are both active-duty Marines. Also, very special thanks to Program Chairman Distinguished Past President Jay Lynch for another successful toy drive. DPP Jay has coordinated the Toys for Tots effort since 1993.

The Kiwanis Club of Somerville is celebrating its 100th year of community service. From the very beginning, service to underprivileged children and children in need of assistance became a core mission of the Kiwanis Club of Somerville. The first Christmas of the club’s existence was marked by a special party and toys for these children in need. The tradition of providing for children at the Christmas holiday season continues to be carried on annually to this day, with the club assisting the children served by the Toys for Tots and Head Start programs.

— Somerville Kiwanis Club