It’s a time-honored tradition. For some, it’s a recent custom. For others, it’s a tradition begun by their ancestors, but once a month, the ladies of Washington’s 19 separate book clubs gather together to share a meal, some local history and to exchange the latest bestsellers. This month, they’re gathering en masse for a good Christmas cause: the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots toy drive.

The Washington Yacht and County Club will host 128 women from 11 of those book clubs for the second annual Toys for Tots luncheon at noon on Thursday. In addition to the cost of the luncheon, each of the ladies attending will add a new toy to the growing pile—gifts for the many children in need in Beaufort and surrounding counties.

“I know (last year) we collected 200 toys,” said Carolyn Wetmore, a member of Tea and Topics book club and one of the organizers of the Toys for Tots luncheon. “We got everything from bicycles down to baby dolls. The variety was so great.”

In 2007, members of the Tea and Topics book club started the Toys for Tots luncheon for its own members, but quickly realized they could reach a greater number of people, and toys, if they extended an invitation to other book clubs. Last year, 113 women attended the event, along with 11 Marine Corps troops who each stood and introduced themselves to the audience.

“It really makes you understand and appreciate who they are,” said Wetmore of the Marine Corps guests. “They could be your grandson or son. But they’re all dressed in uniform and quite handsome.”

For local real estate agent, Rich Morin, the luncheon brings awareness to the Toys for Tots program, which almost didn’t occur in Beaufort County this Christmas season, because the eastern counties had lost their program organizer.

“I looked on the website and saw there were no Toys for Tots (programs) in 11 eastern North Carolina counties,” said Morin.

Morin quickly remedied that, meeting with social services in surrounding counties, and orchestrating their inclusion in the Rocky Mount chapter of the program.

“Toys for Tots is alive and well in Beaufort, Hyde, and Washington Counties,” said Morin.

According to Morin, the number of applications for toys this year is much greater than the number of toys collected in last year’s drive, largely because of the continuing recession and the additional financial stress brought about by Hurricane Irene last August.

Toys for Tots has been filling children’s Christmas wish lists for many years. In 1947, the program was created by Major Bill Hendricks, a U.S. Marine Corps Reservist in Los Angeles, Calif., and was so successful the toy drive was expanded nationwide by the very next year. Since its inception, the Toys for Tots stated objective has not altered: “to bring Christmas joy to America’s needy children.”

Local residents can add to a child’s Christmas joy by delivering a new, unwrapped toy to the many drop-off stations across the county by Dec. 15. After the deadline, Beaufort County’s applications for toys will be measured against the number of donations made in Beaufort County. If more toys are collected than requested, the surplus will be sent to neighboring counties—the process will be reversed should Beaufort County collections not be able to fill all toy applications.

“We’re not going to put (the toys) in a warehouse,” said Morin. “If another county has needs, we’ll send it there.”

Judging by the number of toys collected at last year’s Toys for Tots luncheon, the event organizers are confident they’ll fill the requests for toys in the county.

“It took a massive effort to get those toys moved,” Morin said, recalling last year’s event. “It was a terribly generous donation by the women of the book clubs.”

Donating to the less fortunate is the main draw for the women of Washington’s book clubs, but a handsome man in uniform holding the door as each lady, young and old, enters the country club has its own appeal, according to Wetmore.

“I think I’d have a harder time getting the women to come if we didn’t have the Marines,” she laughed.

To find out more information about the Toys for Tots program visit www.toysfortots.org.