Once again Oak Summit Masonic Lodge No. 112 F & AM was happy to lend a helping hand to the hundreds of kids who might have gone without in this Holiday Season.

Co-partnering with the Stanislaus Group of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys-for-Tots program, the Lodge members placed boxes at 21 business locations in the Knights Ferry, Oakdale, Riverbank and Waterford communities.

Since 1948, the national Toys-for-Tots Foundation has been one of the most recognizable and successful charities in the country. Stopping in Oakdale on Monday, Dec. 19 were Master Gunnery Sergeant Ray Bael and Cpl. Bill Johnson of the local group, who met with the crew from the Oak Summit Masonic Lodge No. 112 of Knights Ferry, who’d gathered over 600 toys – from Barbies to blankets, bicycles and a lot of stuffed animals for local children, more than doubling their donation amount from last year.

The United States Marine Corps Reserves will be burning a lot of midnight oil to get all the collected toys packaged and distributed to those kids in need here locally for Christmas,” said Lodge Master Dan D. Sisssel. “A fantastic effort indeed.”

Sissel said the local Lodge wanted to “especially thank all of the local businesses for allowing us to place the boxes and for being so very generous as well.”