MARINES CALL FOR TOYS, VOLUNTEERS FOR DRIVE.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

ENCINO - As U.S. Marines prepare arms for a war against terrorism, the corps is seeking civilian volunteers to win its Toys for Tots battle against poverty, officials said Friday.

Toys for Tots, founded in Los Angeles in 1947 to give Christmas toys to the poor, needs to double its San Fernando Valley volunteer strength this holiday season as the Marines - who normally pitch in and help the program - are called for additional training.

``We are looking for definitely a few good men and women ... and some teens to help with this program this year,'' said Cpl. Jason Engel, coordinator for the Toys for Tots program at the Marine Corps Reserve in Encino.

``We've got Marines going up (for annual training) who now have to stand additional duties and we can't devote as many hours to the program as we used to.''

While each Marine base once had 20 to 30 Marines helping to collect and sort toys for needy children, now only two or three are assigned to the job.

To fill the gap in Los Angeles, Toys for Tots administrators are trying to double their civilian work force - to 200 San Fernando Valley volunteers - and to nearly quintuple their gifts for Los Angeles children this Christmas.

Organizers also are asking for more toys, as contributions have dwindled.

``We need to take care of our own local children,'' said Emily Tufeld, of Public Storage Inc. in Glendale, which donates storage repositories for thousands of Toys for Tots donations each year.

``Unfortunately, last year more than 100,000 kids did not get toys because not enough people gave.''

Since its founding in 1947, Toys for Tots has found holiday gifts for 272 million needy children, of which 15.8 million received toys nationwide last year.

But although Marine volunteers collected 150,000 toys in Los Angeles in 1998, their numbers have been cut by half each year since.

Of the 250 community service agencies that requested toys last year, only 50 received toys, Engels said. ``We only collected 38,000 toys.

``Our goal this year is to shoot for 150,000.''

Volunteers interested in collecting and sorting gifts and processing applications for toys can call the Marine Corps Reserve in Encino at [phone].

Donations of new, unwrapped toys valued at more than $10 apiece can be dropped off next week at soon-to-be-announced locations. Toys suitable for teens are especially needed.

``U.S. Marines are unbelievable, Toys for Tots is a wonderful program,'' said Helen Levin, executive director of the Association of Soviet Jewish Immigrants, which has requested 500 toys for immigrant children.

``These children's parents don't have money for toys in this country,'' she said. ``These kids need toys.''

Ana Garcia, who works with runaway and abused children for the Bridge Focus program in Panorama City, said she'll never forget the first time she ever gave a Toys for Tots toy.

She was in a large auditorium and the boys and girls were asked to form separate lines to select their toys. One boy just couldn't believe his luck.

``He picked up the toy, and he put it back and walked away,'' she said. ``I said, Wait a minute, this toy is yours. He took it and ran away - and I started to cry.''