A community of elves is taking the reins on a local toy drive in hopes of fulfilling Upper Keys kids’ wishes this holiday season.
For the past 19 years, GySgt. Lou “Gunny” Slagle USMC (Ret) headed up the U.S. Marine Corps Florida Keys Toys for Tots drive. With help from coordinators and a community of generous supporters, tens of thousands of gifts were delivered to homes from Key Largo to Key West in time for kids to unwrap on Christmas morning.
A lack of support staff, however, brought an end to the local drive through Toys for Tots this year.
“It breaks my heart,” Slagle told Keys Weekly on Dec. 3. “I took it over in Monroe County 19 years ago.
Between 2013 and 2023, Slagle said, roughly 88,000 kids in Monroe County received a gift through Toys for Tots.
“The program has been fantastic all these years,” said Slagle, who’s set to turn 76 next week. “All it takes is that one toy.”
The reins to the local holiday toy drive have since been handed over to local fire departments and community members. In Islamorada, Fire Chief Terry Abel and village Mayor Sharon Mahoney are running point on collecting unwrapped toys for kids in Islamorada and Tavernier.
“We’re reaching out to day cares, schools and churches, asking if they have kids who need a gift, and if so what’s the number, ages and what do they want,” Abel said.
Boxes have been distributed at a number of businesses in the village, including Mahoney’s Enchanted Forest shop at MM 82.8.
“I’m really hoping to collect a lot of unwrapped gifts for the kids this year,” said Mahoney.
Mahoney will be collecting unwrapped gifts during the annual Holiday Fest in Islamorada on Friday, Dec. 6. A tent will be set up at the front of the park by the gate where community members can drop off unwrapped toys. Mahoney is also hosting a toy drop-off event on Saturday, Dec. 7 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. outside her florist shop. The fire department will be on hand and refreshments will be available.
Unwrapped toys will also be collected on Sunday, Dec. 15 as the fire department guides Santa Claus and his elves through a number of neighborhoods in Islamorada for a festive parade.
In addition to Mahoney’s shop, gifts can be dropped off at these locations in Islamorada and Tavernier: Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, MM 82.2; Centennial Bank, MM 81.5; First Horizon Bank, MM 80.9 and MM 91.9; SouthState Bank, MM 91.3; Islamorada Moose Lodge, MM 81.5; Winn Dixie inTavernier and three fire stations in Islamorada.
A similar holiday toy drive is underway in Key Largo thanks to the Key Largo Fire Department and several businesses. All donations will be distributed to local families in need through St. Justin Martyr Church, 105500 Overseas Highway.
People can drop off unwrapped gifts to Montessori Academy of the Upper Keys, 5 Transylvania Ave.; Caribbean Club, MM 104, bayside; Centennial Bank, MM 100.2; Key Largo Urgent Care, MM 100.4; Shear Paradise, MM 99.5; and businesses located at the Tradewinds Shopping Center: Florida Keys Windows, UPS Store, T&T Nails and Cirque Salon Studios. People can also drop unwrapped gifts at Key Largo Fire Station 24, 1 East Dr. (MM 99), and Fire Station 25, 220 Reef Dr. (MM 106).
Abel says he hopes there’s a former U.S. Marine out there who can head up the Toys for Tots drive next year in the Florida Keys.
“We have a group who’s willing to help, but it has to be sponsored by a Marine member,” he said. “Without a coordinator, we can’t do Toys for Tots.”
