Maryland National Guard battalion brings toys to kids in need

^{Author: U.S. Army National Guard Maj. Kurt Rauschenberg}

^{Photos by: U.S. Army National Guard Maj. Kurt Rauschenberg}

The season of giving is here and with it brought about 100 soldiers of the Maryland National Guard’s 581st Troop Command who took to the downtown streets of Hagerstown Dec 8 to embark on a three-mile road march providing some extra joy to the community!

Busing into the local National Guard armory with humble smiles, the soldiers packed their military duffle bags and ruck sacks full of toys on a warm drill floor before moving out into the brisk morning temperatures.

Their mission… to support a charity known as Toys for Tots, a non-profit organization founded in 1947 and operated by the Marine Corps Reserves, meant to help families who may be in need of assistance in surprising their children with holiday presents.

TFT collects new toys and distributes them to less-fortunate children across America. This year, the Washington County area TFT campaign received the assistance from their local Md. National Guard.

“We do this aside from our primary mission,” said Lt. Col. Michael Taluskie, 581st battalion commander and, in his civilian capacity, a trooper for the Maryland State Police. “We want to serve our community in every way possible and events like this not only allow us to get some good fitness in, but also provides us the opportunity to meet more of our neighbors and civil servants within the area.”

Alongside the Md. Guard soldiers were supporters from the MSP, State Highway Administration, TFT volunteers and more.

“I feel like for the holidays, we are definitely doing it for our community, we want them to know that we are a part of them and we are always there for them to support and help them so that’s what this is all about,” said Spec. Desmond Sab, a combat engineer with the 253rd Engineer Company.

This is the second time Sab participated in the community event. As a security officer in his civilian capacity, he’s no stranger to helping others.

The soldiers received several horn blows from passing cars and cheers of support as they made their way to the city MSP barracks to drop-off their donations.

Greeted with holiday music performed by the 229th Army Band, the 581st immediately began off-loading their gifts.

Diane Dutrow, a TFT coordinator, reflected on the amazing support these soldiers brought to the community this day as three enormous bins were packed full of toys.

“The toys donated will stay in Washington County,” Dutrow said. “We could not be more grateful for the vans filled with toys by the soldiers.”

According to the local TFT website, almost 18,000 toys have been distributed, which has reached over 1,500 children in the area.

In the end, the battalion commander expressed how amazing it is for the whole community to come together in these times of need.

“The same soldiers that will be coming out in the snowstorms, or high water helping the community, are the same soldiers who are out here marching,” Taluskie said. “I am glad we were able to give such a large contribution to TFT.”