Town Honors Toys for Tots Leader, Volunteers

The Burlington Board of Selectmen acknowledged and honored those who worked tireless to make Christmas a special time for all families with the Toys for Tots program this week.

Board Member and Director of Veteran Affairs Robert Hogan read a proclamation honoring the program and the Middesex-Essex County Chair and Burlington resident Art Enos during Monday's meeting.

"The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during the Holiday season and distribute those toys as gifts to needy chidren in the community," Hogan said. "During the 2011 campaign, Art Enos helped raise more than $120,000 in cash donations and more than 150,000 toys with the help of more than 120 volunteers."

Hogan said the Toys for Tots program is in its 64th year of service and that Enos has been working with the charitable program for more than 30 years. He has also been the regional chair since 2002.

"The Burlington Board of Selectmen do hereby acknowledge, with great appreciation, the effort and dedication of Burlington resident, Art Enos, and all the volunteers for Toys for Tots," Hogan read. "[And] that the idea that new toy at Christmas can bring a message of hope to a less fortunate youngster, and, that the Burlington Board of Selectmen encourage all of its citizens to join us in recognizing this extraordinary program and its extraordinary volunteers."

Following the reading of the proclamation, Enos addressed the board.

"You may have just heard my name, but there are many people who deserve a lot of credit," he said. "Out of all the towns in the Toys for Tots program, no town does more than Burlington."

Enos thanked the   for providing free use of a building for storage. 

"Gutierrez has stepped up every year to give us this building," he said.

Enos also thanked the Burlington Police Department, who paid special attention to the toys this year following the from a Burlington storage bin.

"Every time I looked outside I saw the police," Enos laughed. "I felt very safe."

Finally, Enos thanked everyone who volunteered to help the program and everyone who made a donation to help unfortunate youngsters receive a Christmas gift.

"I’ve been here for a little over 50 years and no town does as much as the Town of Burlington for Toys for Tots," he said. "The people of Burlington contribute in excess of 9,000 toys, just from Burlington."