Volunteers Collect Toys For Tots Donations At Union Station

Volunteers are collecting new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations for the Marines' annual Toys for Tots fundraiser.

Staff Sergeant Acosta stands outside in the frigid air, greeting passengers getting off Amtrak trains at Union Station. He's holding a large Toys for Tots donation jar.

"My hands are freezing but it's fine. I think about the children especially in our time right now that there's a lot of things going on, kids can't get what they want," he says.

Wednesday, Marines and volunteers from Amtrak will stand outside the station at Gate B until 6 p.m., collecting, counting and bagging toys.

"It's very tough to make a living, and Washington, D.C., as we know, is a very expensive city to live in so the more we can give, if we've got it, then let's do it," says one donor, who wishes to keep her donation anonymous.

Volunteers say they usually collect 900 to 1,000 toys during the one-day drive.