Jeff Jarvis has organized Bay County's Toys for Tots program for the last 17 years.
BAY CITY, MI -- The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve founded the Toys for Tots program nearly 70 years ago. Since 1947, the blue dress uniform has been synonymous with making sure all children have a Christmas to remember.
So, when a member of the VFW Post in Bay City found out Jeff Jarvis served in the Marines, he asked him where he could get a drop-off box for the post.
"I called around and found out that there wasn't a Toys for Tots program in Bay County," Jarvis said. "The guy who had ran it for 20 years had retired, they said."
That wasn't acceptable for Jarvis.
"I remember thinking that we can't let kids go without gifts this year," he said. "I asked if there was anything I could do, and you know what they told me? You can run it."
Seventeen years later, Jarvis, Bay County's ultimate secret Santa, continues to make sure every child in need has presents to open on Dec. 25.
The Bay City Times/MLive.com caught up with Jarvis this week to learn more about this year's campaign and find out why he continues to volunteer his time to the program year after year.
MLive: You're now in the thick of this year's campaign. Tell me about how families in need to can signup this year and make sure their children have presents to open on Christmas?
Jarvis: Parents need to signup by Dec. 2. They can do so by coming into the United Way of Bay County, 909 Washington Ave., in downtown Bay City. They can also signup online at www.baycountytoysfortots.org.
What do parents need to bring with them at signup?
A: They need a photo ID and the birth certificates of all their children on the application. If they receive assistance from the (Department of Human Services) or any other kind of government assistance, they need to bring proof of that. If they're not on government assistance, they need to bring their two or three most recent paycheck stubs.
What can parents expect if they're approved for this year's program?
We try to gear toward the supplement they're already doing for Christmas. Typically, we try to give each kid at least four toys. That's the goal.
You're now in your 17th season. What is it like for you after doing this for so many years?
It's kind of like having the same job for 17 years, but it's something you really look forward to. You get in your car and you do your job. So, come Nov. 1, I'm ready to go and get applications rolling.
This isn't your full-time job, though, right?
Oh, no. This has been 100 percent volunteer. I work the third shift grocery stocker at the Meijer on Wilder Road.
What's times do you work your full-time job, then?
That's from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
And then you go and lead Toys for Tots?
Well, I get a little sleep after my shift. I have a volunteer cover the morning shift and then I get into hte office around 1 or 2 p.m.
I'm glad you get a little bit of sleep! Tell me about the need you see year to year from families
It stays pretty consistent, actually. Just as many families are moving in as we have moving out.
How many families did you help last year?
We helped about 800 families in Bay County last year. That means anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000 children received toys from the program.
So, if each kid receives up to four toys from the program, what are we looking at dollar-wise?
We probably handout between $40,000 and $50,000 worth of toys each year.
In terms of donations, what do you prefer: The public dropping off a new, unwrapped toy at a drop-box location? Or making a monetary donation?
Really, both. If a toy is donated to us, we can collect it and hand it directly to a child, which makes things easy. But the money donations allows us to fill the needs for toys we might be missing for certain age groups.
Speaking of dropping off new, unwrapped toys, how many drop-off locations do you have this year?
There are about 160 boxes across the county. We have a complete list of all the locations on our website at www.baycountytoysfortots.org.
You eat, sleep and breathe toys for a few months out of the year. Do you have a pretty good grasp on what the hot, must-have toy is each year?
I usually do. I keep up on it by always checking the local advertisements and seeing what's really being pushed.
And where are you purchasing toys from?
All the toys and money being spent is done locally. I go to Meijer, Walmart and Toys "R" Us. Because all the kids who are helped are local in the county, I keep all the money local in the tri-county area.
After 17 years of leading Toys for Tots in Bay County, is there a memorable story that sticks with you?
There really isn't one specific story, but you can never find a better feeling than when parents show up for the toy distribution and we hand them a big bag of toys. A lot of the times, they end up crying because they are so happy because they don't have to worry about giving their children a great Christmas. This is a distressed area, so I know what we do is a big help for our families. Knowing that I played a part in those families' lives is the best gift I get each year for Christmas.