Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League Launches Recruitment and Toys Drive

Leaders of the Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League Detachment #1399 are announcing their two big goals for the next few months: recruiting more members and collecting new toys for the annual Toys for Tots campaign.

Commandant Rick Seguin and Paymaster Dan LeBlanc believe in serving country and community. They stopped by Townsquare Sunday to speak about both goals and why they're important.

Joining Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League Detachment #1399

"Recruitment for us is a daily event," said LeBlanc, a Vietnam veteran and former Veterans Agent for the City of New Bedford. "Our current members are given Detachment 1399 business cards and are encouraged to speak with Marine veterans and encourage them to attend a meeting and learn more."

Meeting Schedule and Membership Eligibility

"Any Marine seeking to join the detachment must have an honorable discharge, and they can do as much or little as they wish," he said. Meetings are at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month at the VFW Post in Freetown.

"A lot of our members are getting older," LeBlanc said. "We're having trouble recruiting younger members. What we say all the time is, just come to a meeting, and if you like what you hear, then join."

The Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League Detachment #1399 currently has 51 members. For those interested in joining, contact Commandant Rick Seguin at (508) 496-9023 for more information.

A pile of toy cars sitting on top of a table

Annual Toys for Tots Campaign Launch

Marine Corps League Detachment #1399 is also an active participant in the Toys for Tots campaign, held every year before Christmas, supplying toys to needy families in Southern New England.

"Our campaign will kick off in mid-October," said Seguin, who also served in Vietnam. "We'll be collecting toys probably through the 15th of December. The toys go to local children in need, and will be distributed by Child and Family Services in the area."

"They have to be new toys for toddlers right up to pre-teens," he said. "Teenagers are not really interested in toys, so we collect gift cards for teens so they can get something related to what their interests are."

Drop-Off Locations to Be Announced

A list of drop-off locations will be made public soon. One of the most popular is the Massachusetts State Police barracks on Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth.

"Our members could sit back and do nothing," Seguin said. "But they are patriots. They want to go out there and continue to help the folks in our country and in our community."

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