Shoppers getting started on their holiday gift purchases also had an opportunity to donate to the local rendition of the Toys for Tots program. Collection day was hosted over the weekend in the Crossroads Shopping Center.

Located in the Save Mart parking lot, the donations were accepted by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve members and their families, as well as members of the Central Valley Community Resources organization, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1.

The event also featured a car show in the parking lot, which included a wide variety of classic cars, hot rods, trucks and even motorcycles.

Nationally, the Toys for Tots program was started in 1947 by a Marine Reservist and his wife. It’s a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which was launched as a national campaign by the Marine Corps in 1948.

The mission of the program is “to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children” at Christmas time each year.

The stated goal is to “deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, and patriotic citizens.”