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Dunkin’ Donuts Emerges as ‘Secret Santa’ to Keep Toys for Tots Train on Track for 2009 Holiday Season
$20,000 donation will bring toys to thousands of children
throughout New York
Glenville, N.Y., November 2, 2009 – Following reports that the Toys for Tots Holiday Train had run out of steam this holiday season, Dunkin’ Donuts today announced the contribution of $20,000 to keep the train fueled up with toys for 2009. The donation will allow the U.S. Marine Corps’ annual Holiday Train to bring as many as 30,000 gifts to children across New York.
For the first time since its inaugural run more than a decade ago, the Toys for Tots Holiday Train may have been derailed due to lack of support, endangering the delivery of toys to children for the holidays. The money from Dunkin’ Donuts will be used to directly purchase the toys for this year’s collection and support the Holiday Toy Train’s 2009 run across 12 communities from Binghamton to Albany to Plattsburgh.
“We are grateful beyond words for the support that Dunkin’ Donuts and their franchisees have provided us to keep our holiday train on track this season,” said Marine Gunnery Sgt. Albert Roman, who organizes the toy drive locally. “As many are well aware, we were in dire straits after our longtime sponsor was forced to drop out due to the financial difficulties on Wall Street. The thought of not being able to make the train’s run this year was devastating, especially after such a tough year for so many families. Dunkin’ Donuts has literally come to the rescue to ensure that the Toys for Tots Holiday Train will remain on track for the season. Their generous support shows the true nature of the holiday spirit.”
The Holiday Toy Train, donated by Canadian Pacific Railway and stuffed with gifts, will begin its 2009 run on Saturday, December 5 and will travel from Binghamton to Delanson. The following day, the train will make its way from Albany to Plattsburgh with regional stops in Mechanicville, Saratoga and Whitehall. By the end of its run the Toys for Tots Train will have delivered gifts to an estimated 30,000 children in 12 locations.
“When Dunkin’ Donuts received word that this year’s collection drive was in jeopardy, we knew we could not allow a 10-year tradition to fall off the tracks, said Eric Stensland, Field Marketing Manager for Dunkin’ Donuts. “We are honored to keep the Toys for Tots Train running on Dunkin’ Donuts this holiday season. Our local store owners and I are indebted to the work of these incredibly dedicated Marines, staff and volunteers who bring so much joy to so many children each year and we are truly thrilled to be part of their extraordinary efforts.”
Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees will join the Marines on the train’s two-day run as they traverse the state and deliver toys directly to children and families in need. Thousands of toys are also delivered at each station stop to local non-profit organizations, which, in turn, distribute the toys to those in need in their communities.
In addition, Dunkin’ Donuts will warm up the volunteers and families at each station with complimentary hot chocolate and doughnuts.
In addition to the Toys for Tots Holiday Train, the annual U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Holiday Drive will collect gifts at more than 400 locations throughout the Capital Region in 2009. This year’s collection launches on November 5 and 6 at Capital District Toys ‘R Us locations and is expected to bring in thousands of additional gifts for children in communities not covered by the Holiday Train.
Alpin Haus will donate an RV to the Toys for Tots Foundation to collect toys at each of the drop locations. The Alpin Haus vehicle is literally transformed into a Holiday Cruiser RV to allow the Marines to deliver presents to charitable foundations and children throughout New York.
The Toys for Tots Holiday Train will make its annual run on the Canadian Pacific Railway on December 5 and 6 with stops in the following locations:
Saturday, December 5 – Binghamton to Delanson
Location Arrival Depart
Binghamton Yard 10:25 a.m. 10:45 a.m.
Bainbridge 12:05 p.m. 12:40 p.m.
Oneonta 1:30 p.m. 2:50 p.m.
Cobleskill 3:05 p.m. 3:50 p.m.
Delanson 4:45 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 6 – Albany to Plattsburgh
Location Arrival Depart
Albany 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m.
Mechanicville 8:50 a.m. 9:10 a.m.
Saratoga Station 9:50 a.m. 10:10 a.m.
Whitehall Station 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Port Henry Station 1:05 p.m. 1:25 p.m.
Port Kent 3:05 p.m. 3:25 p.m.
Plattsburgh Station 3:45 p.m. 4:05 p.m.
The donation from Dunkin’ Donuts and its franchisees dovetails with the efforts of the Dunkin’ Donuts Community Foundation, which aims to make a positive impact in the lives of children in the communities that Dunkin’ Donuts serves by supporting charities that benefit children.
About Dunkin' Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin' Donuts is America's favorite every day, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' Donuts is a market leader in the regular/decaf coffee, iced coffee, hot flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories, and the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world. Dunkin' Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for three years running. The company has more than 8,800 restaurants in 31 countries worldwide. In 2008, Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide sales were $5.5 billion. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands, Inc. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.
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