Nov 23, 2018 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – The Tri-County Leathernecks are down to just one Marine to organize this year’s Toys for Tots donation drive.

John “Buzz” Walters, who serves as commandant of the organization, is the last remaining member of the group that has spent nearly 40 years helping the community and collecting toys for underprivileged children in the area.

Walters, of Rogersville, is organizing the event by himself this year after the only other member, Dick Saxby, left the area recently to live with family in Ohio while undergoing medical treatment there. Murray Williams, his other closest confidant, died in March 2017 at age 93.

“I have to compensate for them,” Walters said of the 2018 toy donation drive that began recently. “They were more than just people I worked with. They were good friends. We developed a real good friendship.”

The Tri-County Leathernecks formed the organization in 1982 with 44 original members meeting inside Caputo’s Dry Tavern Inn. Over the years, the group’s biggest event has been to organize the annual Toys for Tots drive to offer Christmas cheer to underprivileged children in Greene County.

“They were my two main helpers,” Walters said. “They were two of the last (original) Leathernecks.”

As membership has dwindled over the years, Walters has leaned on the help from a core group of volunteers who transport the donations and operate four distribution centers across the county.

Roy and Shirley Negley work at the Greene County Fairgrounds and help to organize the annual fundraising dinner at Waynesburg Moose Lodge held Nov. 3. His sister-in-law, Teresa Walters, and her daughter, Laura, will distribute toys at Carmichaels American Legion while Toni Cline will work at Bobtown Fire Hall’s distribution location. Linda Pelkey, who helped Saxby over the years at St. Thomas Church in Clarksville, will return to that location again to help during the Dec. 15 distribution date.

“When Dick couldn’t help, she stepped in,” Walters said of Pelkey.

He also pointed to volunteers Skip Black and his brother, Bruce.

“Most of the people around have been in this situation, they know what’s going on. The system is in effect,” Walters said. “Down through the years, this is the first year we’ll have to do it differently, but everyone has a system and that is helping me out.”

Michael Pallesco, who is the coordinator for the Toys for Tots drive in Washington County, also has been integral in help with the drive in Greene County. Pallesco, who is distributing toys for Washington County children Dec. 15 at Washington Alliance Church on Sanitarium Road near Washington, said he is amazed by the Walters’ tenacity to continue the drive.

“I hope I have that much energy when I’m his age,” Pallesco said of the Korean war veteran.

New, unwrapped toys can now be donated at several locations in Waynesburg including Walmart, the Community Banks located on Greene Street and Miller Lane, Big Lots, Dollar General, Waynesburg VFW and Allstate Insurance on Bill George Drive.

The distribution day this year is scheduled for Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. Parents must bring Social Security information of the children and proof of income.

The distribution locations include the Greene County Fairgrounds in Franklin Township, Carmichaels American Legion in Cumberland Township, St. Thomas Church in Clarksville and Bobtown-Dunkard Fire Department in Bobtown.

For more information about donating toys or volunteering for the drive, contact Walters Takedown Tire Shop in Rogersville at 724-499-5332.