No matter where he was stationed in the world, Arbelaez knew that in the late fall, he’d be flying back home to run Toys for Tots.Īlong with his job at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Arbelaez spends most of the year accumulating toys. “I literally enjoyed every aspect of it,” Arbelaez said.Īrbelaez was such a fervent supporter of Toys for Tots that the Corps allowed him to return to North Carolina for the months leading up to Christmas each year so that he could run the program. ![]() What was intended to be a penalty turned into a passion. “They punished me by making me do Toys for Tots.” “It started back in 1986 as a punishment because I messed up in the Marine Corps,” Arbelaez said. Raul “Arbe” Arbelaez has been leading the Rowan Toys for Tots organization for over a decade, but his love for the program began when he was in the Marine Corps in the 1980s.Īrbelaez started volunteering with Toys for Tots when he was in the Marines not because he wanted to, but because he had to. “… When Christmas is over and he’s like ‘What can we do for Toys for Tots?’”Īidan’s love of Toys for Tots has made him invaluable to Arbelaez, who found his own passion for the program decades ago. He’s always thinking of ways to collect more toys next year,” Tara said. The process starts as soon as Christmas ends, Tara said. In the six years since Aidan started volunteering with Toys for Tots, he’s aimed to collect about 1,000 toys by himself. ![]() Raul “Arbe” Arbelaez, who served in the Marine Corps, has been the local Toys for Tots coordinator since he brought the program to Rowan County.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |