Team members at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst and Naval Support Activity (NSA) Lakehurst once again came together to mark the holiday season with a successful Toys for Tots drive. Their efforts resulted in the collection of dozens of bikes, helmets, and almost 1,000 toys.  

Scott McChesney, Lakehurst’s V-22 Weapon System Manager/Acquisition Team Lead and one of the drive’s coordinators, noted the Prototype, Manufacturing, and Test Department collected almost $6,000 in just one week to buy 71 bikes and 37 helmets as part of the effort. Once the bikes were purchased, a group of nine technicians assembled the bikes designed for toddlers to teenagers.

Larry Sinou, a welder with the Prototype and Manufacturing Division, credited the division’s leadership and management for supporting them in their efforts during what has become a highlight of the year for the team.  

McChesney and fellow coordinator Amanda Tanzini thanked team members from across Lakehurst for filling donation boxes over the past few months, resulting in the collection of 936 toys. The toys were also collected during an annual golf tournament, along with help from Navy Exchange managers Kathy Caulfield and Lauren Blair.  

“All of the Toys for Tots volunteers take time out of their busy work schedule to make this magic happen each year,” McChesney said. “Amanda and I really appreciate everything they do and everyone who donates a toy or donates to the bike drive.” 

With all the toys and bikes collected, seven Marines from the Combat Logistics Battalion in Red Bank came to Lakehurst on a dreary December day in three 7-ton military trucks to gather all the donations.  

The Marines noted that Lakehurst provides the most bikes to their collection drive, and said the overall donation was once again an impressive display.