Acting Governor Richard Codey

Codey Opens Select Rail, Bus Stations for 'Toys For Tots'
Toys accepted at NJ Transit's Four Largest Stations in South Jersey(TRENTON) – Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today designated four of the largest NJ TRANSIT rail and bus stations in South Jersey as toy collection sites for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve “Toys for Tots� Program after learning of a potential shortfall this season.

The Governor directed NJ TRANSIT to set up drop-off locations with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve after reading a newspaper article that said Commerce Bank was no longer participating in the “Toys for Tots� program. The bank’s customers typically donate thousands of toys each year. According to the report, the bank said it would devote its resources to its own in-house charitable program.

Fearing “donor fatigue� in a year when the nation supported Hurricane Katrina survivors, Codey asked state residents to continue giving to children in need.

“If you are planning on making another donation this year, I ask that you open your heart to this worthy cause,� Codey said. “The ‘Toys for Tots’ program has brought joy to tens of thousands of New Jersey children over the years. We should do what we can to ensure that this long-standing tradition of giving continues.�

Drop boxes will be set up to collect new, unwrapped toys from Thursday, December 15 through Wednesday, December 21 at the following designated facilities: Trenton Station, Walter Rand Transportation Center (Camden), Atlantic City Rail Terminal and Atlantic City Bus Terminal. Combined, the four facilities serve more than 30,000 bus, rail and light rail customers each weekday.

The addresses follow for the four facilities:

Trenton Station
So. Clinton Ave. at Raoul Wallenberg Ave.
Trenton, NJ

Walter Rand Transportation Center
100 Broadway
Camden, NJ

Atlantic City Rail Terminal
One Atlantic City Expressway
Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City Bus Terminal
1995 Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year and distributes those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children across the state.

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 800,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 53 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.